Color Imagery in Film Cool Runnings

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Color Imagery in Film Cool Runnings

Colour imagery is used in four main ways in the film 'Cool Runnings':

1. To establish the setting.

2. To help define character.

3. To predict potential unity between main characters.

4. To illustrate the growing personalities of the Jamaicans.

The film uses colour imagery right from the start. The film opens up

with a beautiful back drop of a warm, glowing sun rise. As the film

goes on we see the luscious green countryside and the islanders

wearing bright oranges and reds representing the Jamaican happy go

lucky attitude towards life. The overall feeling you get from the

setting shown to you is a warm one where you can sense the happy go

lucky feeling to a place like this. You can't imagine anything bad

happening in a place as beautiful as this.

You don't have to use warm colours to show a beautiful place as there

is a stark contrast between Jamaica and Canada where the second half

of the film is set. But Canada is also a beautiful setting although

there is a different feel to it. It's not the same as the warm happy

go lucky feel of Jamaica. But a harsh cold feeling, that's very sharp.

It reminds one of the ice queens, as it is harsh and sharp yet

beautiful as well. The contrast between Jamaica and Canada is shown

very effectively in juxtaposition. You see the plane take off amidst

warm golden earthy colours, and you see it touch down amongst sharp

silvery blues. You also see this beautiful palm tree in Jamaica which

is replaced by an equally beautiful conifer in Canada.

Colour imagery is shown strongly when trying to define characters. It

is noticed most in Canada as the Jamaicans stand out. You notice this

instantly in the first scene set in Canada. In Jamaica everybody wears

bright colours. In Canada everybody wears subdued blues and blacks. So

when the Jamaicans un-board their plane they stand out like sore

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