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.