The aesthetic is the way a film's visual and aural features are used to create essentially non-narrative dimensions of the film, including the film's 'look'. Aesthetics can be understand to relate to the style, tone, look or mood of a film.
This quote shows the use of aesthetics in a film, it is not a physical thing such as cinematography or editing but it helps to express a feeling. It can also be used to show a director’s style. For example, Wes Anderson has a very unique style which is shown through the use of cinematography, editing, mis-en-scene and sound, yet if you were to describe how he achieves the specific style you could not only say a type of camera angle or cut. Instead, you could describe the aesthetic. Aesthetics can also be a recollection of particular moments in a film, even if you have forgotten the plot.
Formalist is “an approach to film theory that is focused on the formal or technical elements of a film”. This includes the key elements of film form: cinematography, editing, sound and mis-en-scene. Formalism focuses on the way a film is made and its visual aspects instead narrative content or relation to the real world. An example of formalism is when there is a shoot-out so the director decreases the length of the shots, builds the music and goes from very wide to very close, in order to create tension. In combination, all the elements create a tense atmosphere. Another, more simple, example is using continuity editing to create a comforting effect.
On the other hand, realism (the opposite of formalism) “explores the ways in which aesthetics can shape the interpretation and reception of a film”. It explores directors use different artistic movements and traditions, including modernism, surrealism, futurism in their work. It also “investigates the cultural, historical, and socio-political contexts that influence filmmakers and their aesthetic choices”. It is all about how a director evokes reactions and artistic responses from the audience through creative choices and the meaning behind the film (the symbolism, visual motifs and themes).