Trainspotting: Mise-en-scene and cinematography analysis
Trainspotting scene analysis:
Mise-en-scene and Cinematography:
The scene opens with a high angle shot of the crowd in the lower floor of the bar, showing the insignificance of the characters and their inferiority within the scene. This is later amplified by Begbie's actions when he throws the pint glass into the crowd, causing injury. The mise-en-scene of many of the people in the crowd show the variety of different professions within society and heighten the idea of realism and therefore juxtaposes the lives of the main characters who are going through a much more dramatic and chaotic life.
The scene then follows to a medium shot of the group at the bar. The mise-en-scene of the characters positions show their individual importance to the scene. Begbie being in the middle of the shot highlights that he has the power within the scene at this time, as he's in the most visible position. The power Begbie has, although, isn't higher social power -seen through the fact that the shot doesn't favour a lower angle on him, but is the same height for each character- but is rather the power of having the attention of the story at this time. The lighting in the shot is quite low, apart from on Tommy where there is slight high key lighting. This shows to the audience that out of the group, Tommy is the purest and has the best morals at this time. As well as this, it could be interpreted that Tommy has high key lighting on him as he knows the truth to the story that Begbie is telling, and the lighting shows him to be the source of truth, unlike Begbie who's in low key lighting.
The scene includes close up shots of the rest of the group in reaction to Begbie's story. Each character's mise-en-scene of facial expression shows their thoughts to not only the story being told, but their opinions of Begbie as a character. Tommy's mise-en-scene shows him to be knowing of the truth due to his unbelieving and uncaring facial expression and body language- its very open and relaxed showing his lack of interest in the story. Spuds reaction shows his uneasiness and submissive nature of his character- his head is down and his mise-en-scene of positioning shows his body to be facing Begbie, even if his face doesn't look interested, he needs to show he is. Sickboy's mise-en-scene shows him to be intrigued and excited by the story due to his facial expressions looking cheery and interested, possibly showing him to be respectful of Begbie and what he has to say, as well as showing his character to be that of mischief and trouble-loving. Finally Renton's reaction, much like Tommy's, is carefree and uninterested, juxtaposing Sickboy's who is included in the same shot, heightening their reactions to the stories. Both shots include mise-en-scenes that contrast and therefore emphasise the other in the scene, cleverly showing how positioning and close-up shots help heighten environment and impressions of the stories being told.
The next shot in the scene is that of a medium shot of Begbie throwing a beer glass over his shoulder. Not only does Begbie's mise-en-scene show him to be carefree and ignorant, due to his open body language and lack of awareness to his actions, his mise-en-scene also shows how his actions and his character pose a threat within the scene as well. There is low key lighting surrounding Begbie within the shot, connoting that there is something almost sinister and dangerous about his character, this point is only amplified through the colours that are surrounding him in the shot as well; the colour red is seen behind Begbie in the windows of the bar, as well as in the costumes of Sickboy and Spud. The connotations of the colour red present danger and therefore show the audience that Begbie's actions in this shot are going to be morally wrong and show the danger he poses as a character as well.
The shot is then followed by a mid shot of the group from the back, presenting the characters as being almost unaware of their consequences within this scene -perhaps showing to the audience that this attitude is seen throughout the film as well and that is what the characters are like as people overall. However, in the shot you do see Tommy turned slightly towards the camera, showing that he has some reaction to consequences at the start of the film and that out of the rest of the group, at this point, he is the most moral one, to an extent. This is also seen through the high key lighting seen as a spotlight effect shining on Tommy's character.
The scene ends with a low angle shot of the rest of the gang looking down on the fight taking place. This connotes to the audience that the rest of the characters have power over the rest of the people in the bar fight, possibly showing that because they won't belittle themselves to being involved in the fight in the first place, it gives them some power and respect over the other characters. However, the shot does invoke some irony with the connotations, as the characters seen aren't really more powerful in any way than Begbie, as, although they don't join bar fights, they do join other activities such as doing drugs or petty theft, therefore showing that really they have no true power in the rest of the movie morally, but they just have an appearance of power within this shot. The low key lighting used shows this point as well, as it still makes them look mischievous and sinister.
The scene includes close up shots of the rest of the group in reaction to Begbie's story. Each character's mise-en-scene of facial expression shows their thoughts to not only the story being told, but their opinions of Begbie as a character. Tommy's mise-en-scene shows him to be knowing of the truth due to his unbelieving and uncaring facial expression and body language- its very open and relaxed showing his lack of interest in the story. Spuds reaction shows his uneasiness and submissive nature of his character- his head is down and his mise-en-scene of positioning shows his body to be facing Begbie, even if his face doesn't look interested, he needs to show he is. Sickboy's mise-en-scene shows him to be intrigued and excited by the story due to his facial expressions looking cheery and interested, possibly showing him to be respectful of Begbie and what he has to say, as well as showing his character to be that of mischief and trouble-loving. Finally Renton's reaction, much like Tommy's, is carefree and uninterested, juxtaposing Sickboy's who is included in the same shot, heightening their reactions to the stories. Both shots include mise-en-scenes that contrast and therefore emphasise the other in the scene, cleverly showing how positioning and close-up shots help heighten environment and impressions of the stories being told.
The next shot in the scene is that of a medium shot of Begbie throwing a beer glass over his shoulder. Not only does Begbie's mise-en-scene show him to be carefree and ignorant, due to his open body language and lack of awareness to his actions, his mise-en-scene also shows how his actions and his character pose a threat within the scene as well. There is low key lighting surrounding Begbie within the shot, connoting that there is something almost sinister and dangerous about his character, this point is only amplified through the colours that are surrounding him in the shot as well; the colour red is seen behind Begbie in the windows of the bar, as well as in the costumes of Sickboy and Spud. The connotations of the colour red present danger and therefore show the audience that Begbie's actions in this shot are going to be morally wrong and show the danger he poses as a character as well.
The shot is then followed by a mid shot of the group from the back, presenting the characters as being almost unaware of their consequences within this scene -perhaps showing to the audience that this attitude is seen throughout the film as well and that is what the characters are like as people overall. However, in the shot you do see Tommy turned slightly towards the camera, showing that he has some reaction to consequences at the start of the film and that out of the rest of the group, at this point, he is the most moral one, to an extent. This is also seen through the high key lighting seen as a spotlight effect shining on Tommy's character.
The scene ends with a low angle shot of the rest of the gang looking down on the fight taking place. This connotes to the audience that the rest of the characters have power over the rest of the people in the bar fight, possibly showing that because they won't belittle themselves to being involved in the fight in the first place, it gives them some power and respect over the other characters. However, the shot does invoke some irony with the connotations, as the characters seen aren't really more powerful in any way than Begbie, as, although they don't join bar fights, they do join other activities such as doing drugs or petty theft, therefore showing that really they have no true power in the rest of the movie morally, but they just have an appearance of power within this shot. The low key lighting used shows this point as well, as it still makes them look mischievous and sinister.
Comments
Post a Comment