Discuss Bazin's idea that 'realism in art can only be achieved through artifice'. What are the implications for film of his approach? Make reference to films in your answers.

When the influential French film theorist Andre Bazin is mentioned, an image of an asymptote, a curve which gradually approaches a straight line but which meets it only at infinity will automatically conjures up in my mind. By that asymptote Bazin actually means a images for the relation between film and reality. (pp 339. As one of the most sincere and substantial defender of realism in the cinema, Bazin believes that films should represent the reality …

…he sees Bazin's theory leads to 'no more cinema'. He sees the ' fundamental essence of film is to destroy everything that distinguishes it as film' as a paradox. In this essay, using Andre Bazin's famous argument 'reality in film can only be achieved through artifice', I have provided the analysis of application of different artifice, especially camera techniques and editing technique in two forms of realistic films in a large context of realistic theories.