Textuality » 4A Interacting
Anna and The King
Answer the questions:
•1. Who is the speaking voice of the film?
The speaking voice is Prince Chulalongkorn, King Mongkut' s first-born. He is the hereditary prince and he speaks at the beginning and the end of the film to explain parts of the story. He is already adult and he remember the events when Anna, his English teacher, was at the court of Siam.
•2. Why does the director use this narrative technique?
I think the director use this narrative technique because he wants to communicate to the spectator the story is telling by the adult Chulalongkorn.
The speaking voice explains preceding and successive events that the spectator can't see in the film: at the beginning is explained the reason why Anna went in Siam (he says also: "She was the first English woman I have never seen"). At the end of the film Chulalongkorn, looking his father and Anna, reasons about love between Anna and his father.
•3. Discussion topics:
- Siam: The nation is presented, in the film, by events that happen to the
court. It is a flourishing nation subdivided into 49 regions ruled by the
King Rama IV Mongkut. The piece of information is given by young
Chulalongkorn at the beginning of the first Anna' s lesson.
- Siamese traditions: They mix with law during the film. Duties and traditions
are connected.
- Concubines: It was tradition, for the king, to have some young and beautiful
women that lived with him at court. They were concubines,
women no married with the king but that give sons to him.
Louis, Anna' s son, is interested by the question because he
don't understand the reason why the king have so many
women.
- Love: I think there are three kinds of love in the film:
1. The love/affection between the King and his wives and
concubines,
2. The love that Anna proved for her husband,
3. The love between Anna and Mongkut.