Question

Listen to the folksinger Joan Baez's lyrics as the opening montage of graves and images from the civil rights movement flash on the screen. What point was Spike Lee, the director, trying to make by using this film technique?

Answer 1

Spike Lee uses juxtaposition in his film Da 5 Bloods to link the Civil Rights movement with the Vietnam War, suggesting through music and visual montage that these events are fundamentally intertwined and impacted American society deeply.

Step-by-step explanation:

By choosing to open his film Da 5 Bloods with the powerful lyrics of folk singer Joan Baez, set against a montage of graves and haunting images from the civil rights movement, director Spike Lee is crafting a provocative juxtaposition.

This technique is intentional and impactful, serving to connect the struggles and sacrifices highlighted by the Civil Rights movement to the turmoil and moral complexity of the Vietnam War.

The use of music and historical film montage provides a visceral realization that the war's social and political implications resonated far beyond the battlefields, impacting the very fabric of American society during the 1960s.

This method, akin to the storytelling techniques used by other filmmakers and historians like Ken Burns, encourages viewers to grapple with how the personal lives and stories of individuals intersect with major events and movements, ultimately fostering deeper understanding and retention of the film's themes.