Blog #2: Camera Movement from "Atonement" (2007)

"I love you. I'll wait for you. Come back. Come back to me."

- Cecilia Tallis, Atonement

Ladies, remember this name: Joe Wright. This lovely man has directed successful classics from the Romance genre: Pride & Prejudice and Anna Karenina (Keira Knightley starred on both films). Mr. Wright is the perfect director for film adaptations of Romantic novels. But let's focus on long shots. Yes, we know about the flawless work of Emmanuel Lubezki (The Revenant, Gravity, Birdman, Children of Men, The Tree of Life). His work is breath-taking, and he is one of the biggest names regarding cinematography. Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life, The New World, Knight of Cups), Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Children of Men), and Alejando G. Iñarritu (The Revenant, Birdman) have worked with Lubezki for many years. 

Ladies, let me introduce to another flawless cinematographer: Seamus McGarvey. Wright and McGarvey have worked together for many years as well. Pan, Anna Karenina, The Soloist, and Atonement were created by these gentlemen. One of the things that makes this film memorable is the Dunkirk beach scene. It lasts between 5 minutes and 6 minutes without cuts. I bet they rehearsed many times until they master every movement. The outcome is pure gold. Also, the music by Dario Marianelli, who happens to work many times with Mr. Wright as well, adds more sadness, drama, and nostalgia to this scene. The scene is so horribly graphic, yet beautiful.

I highly recommend this film. I guarantee you are not going to stop crying. This movie is based on the best selling novel by Ian McEwan. This is the movie trailer!

*Note* Benedict Cumberbatch is on the film, but his character is creepy and will make you feel uncomfortable! Also, Saoirse Ronan was nominated for an Academy Award for her magnificent performance, and she was 13 years old!

Blog #1: Camera Angle from "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" (2006)

"For the first time in is life, Grenouille realized that he had no smell of his own. He realizes that all his life he had been a nobody to everyone. What he now felt was the fear of his own oblivion. It was though he did not exist."

- The Narrator, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

If you have seen Run Lola Run, then you may like this film. Tom Tykwer (Cloud Atlas) did a spectacular job as a director and as a composer. But I highly applaud the cinematographer, Frank Griebe (Run Lola Run, Cloud Atlas). Tykwer and Griebe love to work together, and I can see why: they are true artists. This is one of my favorite scenes from this movie. It is a high angle shot, which awakens anxiety to the viewer. It foreshadows that something bad is going to happen to the plum girl. Let's focus on the color. The color palette from this shot varies: warm colors (the plums and the red hair from the girl) contrasts with the dirty wood from the background. Although it is a frightening scene, it is still beautiful. The whole movie is aesthetically perfect due to its cinematography.

The film is based on the international best selling novel by Patrick Süskind. This is the movie trailer. Check it out!

*** WARNING*** THERE IS A SCENE OF AN ORGY IN THE FILM***WARNING***

Blog #1: Camera Shot from "Far from the Madding Crowd" (2015)

"It is difficult for a woman to define her feelings in a language chiefly made by men to express theirs"

- Bathsheba Everdene, Far from the Madding Crowd

We, women, are surrounded by men. So, I hope that this quote will catch your attention. Far from the Madding Crowd directed by Thomas Vinterberg (The Hunt) is, by far, one of the best cinematographies that I have ever seen in my short life. Charlotte Bruus Christensen (The Hunt, The Girl on the Train) did a marvelous master piece. The contrasting colors (the lavender dress, the red uniform, the grass, and the trees) make this scene stand out. Every time that I look at this scene, I pause it. Just by looking at this dazzling long shot and the contrasting colors make me feel alive. It is like an artistic drug. When I watch this film, I always contemplate this beautiful piece of work that resembles a painting. This is the reason why I love this film. Let me rephrase it: this is the reason why I love films. I always discover myself through old and new emotions and feelings just by looking at the cinematography. Cinematography is the element that makes films an art of expression. A beautiful and flawless moment.

If I did not catch your attention, this film is based on a Thomas Hardy's novel. This is the movie trailer.

If I still did not catch your attention, just look at this handsome gentleman: Gabriel Oaks (Matthias Schoenaerts). I guarantee Mr. Oak will capture all your hearts, just like Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice did and still does.

Blog #2: The Colors of Love (The Road Home)

"I'll be waiting for you"

- Zhao Di, The Road Home

Colors are around us. We are surrounded by infinite colors that are created by the mixture of three primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. How magic it is the power of colors. In film, colors have the power to determine the mood and the tone of the story. They even make the audience experience an emotion or, a feeling. What did I feel while watching Yimou Zhang's "The Road Home" film? A myriad of emotions and feelings, thanks to the colors. There is a lot of symbolism in the film, mostly objects (brooch, barrette, cup, etc.) But what struck me the most was the use of color as a symbol. 

Zhao Di is always wearing the same color palette in her clothing: pink, red, and green.What do these colors mean? We have to consider the character as well. In this case, Zhao Di is the only one that stands out from the other characters due to the vibrant colors in her clothing. Pink is use for love, romance. compassion, and caring.Well, that is true. There are many instances throughout the film that fit perfectly for these meanings. For example, Zhao Di cooks scrumptious dishes for Luo Changyu, her "crush." Also,she is very passionate about showing her love to him. Isn't red a passionate color? There you go. Red means passion, willpower, and determination. Yes, she is like that. I don't know about the green, but it contrasts with the colors pink and red. Probably the green symbolizes nature. After all, she is surrounded by nature. 

Another use of color that makes the film more aesthetic is the black & white at the beginning and at the end of the film. We all know that black & white is nostalgic, because when the camera was invented, the photographs were in black & white. But why did Yimou Zhang reversed the meaning of these colors?I don't know the answer. Fortunately, he is alive. I'm going to ask him some day.

 

If you are interested in colors, check out the film "Submarine," directed by Richard Ayoade (Maurice Moss from "The IT Crowd"). Jordana Bevan (a female character from "Submarine") and Zhao Di have something in common: the red item in their clothing, and they are in love with guys that wear dark color clothing.

 

Blog #1: Antoine Doinel: A Credible Character (The 400 Blows)

 

"Oh, I lie now and then, I suppose. Sometimes I'd tell them the truth and they still wouldn't believe me, so I prefer to lie"

-Antoine Doinel, The 400 Blows

It is inevitable to not feel sorry for the deviant boy living in the beautiful, yet sketchy, Paris. His parents are living their own lives, while forgetting about their son. His mother is having an affair with her boss, while her husband is desperately looking for his missing Michelin guide. This boy is living a nightmare at school. His teacher and one of his classmates bullies him. The reason? We don't know. Well, at least he has his friend to support him. But that is not enough for this boy. Poor Antoine Doinel. What did he do wrong? What did Francois Truffaut try to convey to his audience? Maybe life is unfair. But, is it unjust to all humanity, or just to certain people? His truest friend, Rene, commits the same "mistakes" as Antoine, but he isn't punished. What is different? The answer relies on each boy's social status. That is the true of life: money changes everything. This is why "The 400 Blows" is the most credible coming-of-age film that I've ever seen in my short life. Well, it makes sense. After all, this is the half-memoir of Truffaut. 

 

This is my favorite shot of the film. The contrast between the "madame" (you have to see the film to completely understand this inside joke) and the background is powerful. Even though it's in black & white, it draws the eye to the madame. The background doesn't matter, it's this character that takes over the scene. The lines from the stairs and handrails make the shot more geometric, which makes it aesthetic and neat. But the real reason why this shot is in my "Top 10: Cinematographic Scenes" (alongside the Dunkirk scene from "Atonement") is the film reference from "The Seventh Seal." The resemblance is uncanny.

 

Do you think that Truffaut was inspired by Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal," when he shot this scene?