Verisimilitude

1. Verisimilitude (style/narrative )

2. Verisimilitude , in a narrow sense, is the likeness or semblance of a narrative to reality, or to the truth. It comes from Latin: verum meaning truth and similis meaning similar.

3. Verisimilitude Verisimilitude is a philosophical or theoretical notion that distinguishes truth and falsity of assertions or hypotheses. The problem of verisimilitude is the problem of articulating what it takes for one false theory. To be closer the truth than another theory. Verisimilitude is described in storytelling by the way the audience contributes to their experience by their willing acceptance that e ven when events or people in a movie are not r ealistic, if the filmmakers’ vision is consistent it gives us the sense that in THAT world these things COULD HAPPEN.

4. Verisimilitude in Film Verisimilitude means the appearance of truth. Within film this is obviously crucial. Todorov identified two types of verisimilitude: generic verisimilitude and broader social or cultural verisimilitude i.e. what is normal in a genre of film and what is normal in normal life. Neale argues that generic verisimilitude allows filmmakers to ignore or sidestep realist aspects and still make it feel true to audiences, giving the examples of the musical. He also argues that certain genres depend far more on culture verisimilitude: gangster, war, police films compared to science fiction, gothic horror or slapstick comedies. Least cultural verisimilitude aspects are what attract audiences the most.

5. Cinéma vérité

6. In contrast to traditional documentary, cinéma vérité documentary attempts to capture experience in an unobtrusive, unedited manner as possible. These documentaries consist of long takes with little editing or commentary. There are also far fewer interviews in favour of having participations converse with each other. Events are portrayed as they unfold, without having the presence of a camera influence those events or any staging or playing for the camera to shape those events . The less-obtrusive, light-weight 16-mm camera, zoom lens, fast film stocks, and superior recording equipment in the 1960s led to the rise of cinéma vérité documentary during that time.