Genre Essay

The film ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ is a stereotypical of the romantic genre. We can tell from the trailer that this film explores the complex side of love and the obstacles that is preventing love between them. The film is about Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old cancer patient, who meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters, a teen from her cancer support group. Hazel feels that Gus really understands her. They both share the same wit and a love of books, especially Grace's touchstone, "An Imperial Affliction" by Peter Van Houten. When Gus scores an invitation to meet the reclusive author, he and Hazel embark on the adventure of their brief lives.

By looking at the mise-en-scene we can see that the film is stereotypical of the romantic drama genre as the location, costume, props, colours and everything that can be seen on screen is typical of the genre. The film is set in two different countries but features about 30 different locations in just the trailer. The Fault in Our Stars is mainly set in Indianapolis, the most populous city in the state if Indian, and this is were Gus and Hazel fall in love. Although in most romantic movies it is set in a large city the film is set in a smaller city to try and portray and more realistic feeling to the film. Part of the film is also set in Amsterdam, which is one of the most erotic cities in the world. The costumes of the characters are also stereotypical, jeans, converse, leather jackets, all of which you would expect to see in a modern day drama, is what the young teens in love wear. The props in this film do not appear in every genre but as Romantic Dramas are all about a complex the side of love and the obstacles they may have to face, to for Hazel to carry around an oxygen tank wherever she goes is somewhat not unusual at all. The prop helps portray emotion and shock as it’s not something a 16 year old child should go through ever in their life.

The first shot in the trailer is stars, which is reinstated to the name of the movie (novel). The camera then jump shots to our ‘heroine’, Hazel Grace Lancaster, filmed in a close up of her face, while a non-diegetic voiceover of text is played directly over the several clips that are supposedly featured in the movie. The two main character leads, Hazel and Augustus Waters spin romantically while accompanied by a twinkling piano. We see them laughing and kissing, and everything appears to be a typical romance in this day and age, of all of which is shown in montage. Then comes the element that will set this film apart from others in the romantic young-adult genres and turn it into a Romantic Drama! All the twinkly sweet piano music comes to a dead stop as the trailer cuts to a close up of Hazel’s face, suddenly breaking the whimsical spell that the audience had been put under. This action shot moves the story alone as no one knows what will happen next, but allows te trailer to carry on. 

We known for sure that this is over when we hear Hazel’s, who we have been forced to identify with, voice over declaring “It’s just not the truth”. The screen goes black as Hazel shuts her eyes which changes the setting as we now see Hazel entering a Cancer Support Group as her mother friendly tells her to go “make some friends!”. The shot type used straight after this as she enters the building and bumps into Augustus is very clever. As she bumps into him the camera goes from a wide shot of the pair of them to an over the shoulder shot of Hazel apologising for knocking into him, then changes to s shot/reverse shot of both Hazel and Augustus making awkward apologetic conversation. This is used throughout the trailer. This makes the scene very realistic and natural which you would expect from a movie. We are then slightly introduced to what seems to be a close friend of both lead characters.

Suddenly, the bittersweet trailer takes a turn for the worse as Hazel mentions that she is “a grenade” who will one day “blow up and obliterate everything in my way.” This stimulates and enigma code allowing the audience to ask themselves what is going to happen to Hazel, Will she live? Will she die? It might be a love story, but it is also a love story with an incredibly realistic element to it that comes through in the following scenes where we see shots of Hazel hospitalised. The trailer continues as Augustus declares his love for Hazel and they engage in the typical elements of a movie romance. The complications of Hazel’s cancer is clearly visible throughout the trailer, with her top even getting caught on her cannula ,“We are a hot mess” she exclaims. The final shot of the trailer “okay/okay” affirmation that the pair will always love each other no matter what, in a way that closes the trailer for a movie that will hopefully capture the hearts of many. This is the final enigma shot as now it leaves the audience on edge, forcing them to ask questions like, where is Augustus? Is he okay? Is Hazel okay?

Captions are used throughout the trailer when informing the audience that it is based on the best-selling novel by John Green, of who the roles of characters are being played by, when the film is realised and informing the audience of how “Life doesn't have to be perfect. For love to be extraordinary”.

• Heroin: Hazel Grace Lancaster, the main character around which the narrative is based around and wants to fulfil her dream of meeting her favourite author before it is too late
• Hero: Augustus Waters, second main character who helps Hazel to get her dreams but can also acts as a 'reward' once it has been fulfilled
• Heroin/Princess guardians: Mother and Father. Mother takes her to Amsterdam however both are unsure about her relationship with Augustus
• The Villain: Their Cancer! Tries to stand in both of Hazel's and Augustus's way and gives them obstacles to face
• Donor or Mentor: Hazel's oxygen tank allowing her to get to Amsterdam and fulfil her dream
• Helper: Their blind best friend, Isaac, who is there for both of them throughout their love story