What is the term for the visual style and technical choices used to tell the story in a film?

The term "cinematic language" refers to the specific visual and technical choices filmmakers use to convey meaning and tell a story through their films. This includes elements such as camera angles, shot composition, lighting, color, and sound, all of which work together to create a cohesive narrative and emotional experience for the audience.

In essence, cinematic language allows filmmakers to communicate ideas and emotions without relying solely on dialogue. By leveraging this visual storytelling toolkit, directors can influence audience perception and shape the film's overall tone and message. Understanding cinematic language is crucial for analyzing films, as it reveals the underlying techniques that contribute to the storytelling process.

The other options, while related to filmmaking, have narrower definitions. Film narrative specifically refers to the storyline or the sequence of events in a film, focusing on what happens rather than how it is visually portrayed. Production design relates to the visual aspects of the sets, props, and overall aesthetic environment within a film, but does not encompass the broader spectrum of technical choices in storytelling. Editing style deals with the way scenes are pieced together, affecting pacing and transition but is just one component of the overall cinematic language.