Movies

The Cinematic Universe of Andrea Arnold

A video essay explores the acclaimed filmmaker’s exquisite usage of atmosphere.
Andrea Arnold American Honey Sasha Lane
A24
By  · Published on April 18th, 2017

When asked which female director he would most like to see direct a Star Wars film, Gareth Edwards said, “I’d love to see an Andrea Arnold Star Wars…I’d be first in line for that.” Although it’s highly unlikely Arnold would ever trade in her gritty, uncompromising indie career for one directing tentpoles, the pairing makes sense: no one is quite as skilled and effective when it comes to building a unique, lived-in atmosphere as she is.

The English filmmaker broke onto the scene in 2003 with her Oscar-winning short, Wasp, before following up with the widely acclaimed lo-fi indies Red Road and Fish Tank, the latter winning the Grand Prix at Cannes. In recent years, Arnold has directed an adaptation of Wuthering Heights, as well as the new A24 cult classic American Honey.

This informative video essay courtesy of Fandor does a great job of giving you the skinny on Andrea Arnold’s style and composition, and how it compliments her characters and storytelling. We’re very lucky to be witnessing the blossoming career of such a humane and fearless storyteller in a day and age where art needs empathy more than anything.

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21. Filmmaker. Writer for Film School Rejects. Featured on MTV, Indiewire & The A.V. Club.