If you're teaching a college level course on visual storytelling, I would screen Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" and Sydney Lumet's "12 Angry Men". Both films offer an almost invisible complexity that can be broken down very easily and unlock alot of techniques for your students.
Kubrick's directing technique on a clockwork broke alot of rules at the time. Just a subtle hint to how masterful and consistent his directing technique is on Clockwork (and not to give anything away), I will use another Kubrick film as an example of consistent visual storytelling: The Shining with Jack Nicholson - Originally shot in 4:3, Kubrick's camera shots are 99% one point perspective and 99% image replacement....You can put your finger at the center of the 4:3 presentation and watch 99% of the film at your finger tip. I leave it to you to share with your students as to why.
Sydney Lumet's directing technique is notable in that you can watch the film without sound where the story unfolds through the composition and location of the characters from beginning to end. Amazingly subtle.
I love unlocking alot of the visual art of filmmaking and may write a short book on it.
