‘The Pianist’ is a film directed by Roman Polanski and based around the life of Wladyslaw Szpilman during the Nazi invasion of Poland. Roman used visual techniques in the opening scenes such as black and white film, camera positioning and motifs to create an atmosphere for the audience.
The first scene in the film is a montage of grainy black and white scenes of Polish life before the Nazi invasion on Poland. The footage shows a dated world with old English style building and technology, people are shown walking about the town in aged clothing. The grainy dated look of the film also makes the scenes appear gloomy but relaxed at the same time. These images are used to drive the notion that it is set in a time long ago, in a different era. This scene is a critical part in the film as it refines the time and emotion, in which the film is set, so the audience can relate better to the characters and what is happening to them.
Wladyslaw Szpilman is shown in almost every scene at the beginning of the film. This helps us get a better understanding of Szpilman as we can see how he reacts to the situations he gets placed in. When the Szpilman family got notices of rules they would react to the situation and do what they could. Most of the time Wladyslaw was shown in the centre of the scene and things would happen around him. This shows us that Wladyslaw was strong willed and single minded as he resisted the controls of the Nazi. He does not want to leave his home during the invasion which also tells us that he was a dedicated to is country and would not give in that easily to the Nazis. These scenes are important as the show Wladyslaw’s character in depth.
Midshots are used through out the most of the opening scenes in the film. Roman used this type of shot while the family was packing up to move out of Warsaw, listening to the radio, and arguing about what to do with the valuables. These shots were used for those scenes as it gives the audience a wide shot of what is going on in the current vicinity. It is able to show how the entire family reacts to the events that are taking place. It also allows the audience to see the expressions and emotions of the characters during the harsh and difficult times.
This film captures this class distinction without subduing the atmosphere through the use of a variety of cinematic devices. “A good film is not a bag of cinematic devices but the embodiment, through devices, of a vision, an underlying theme” (Barnett, 274). The audience can see this theme of the realities of the oppression, poverty and despair of this time period through the use of the things mentioned, but also through the character development that is driven by the character’s hopelessness. Each of the characters associated with the lower class is motivated by the conditions, which are viewed through the cinematic devices mentioned above: color, spherical lenses, long shots, and high angle shots. Sources Cited:.
...olours of the opening scenes combines with the horrid lifestyle of Vaughn and Lena, whilst the greens and clouded with droplets of rain as they drive over the range brings in the ideas of hope and a future for both of the characters. The vital role the changing images that surrounds the pair gives insight into the influence of settings on plot and character development.
This shows that there is a lot of improvised housing in the time period. After this, the Little Tramp gets a job again at the same factory that he worked at before, but after a short time, the other workers go on strike again.... ... middle of paper ... ... Another different from the films is the law enforcement, the police were on the ball in Modern Times, they were there to do their duty and getting the Little Tramp in jail when he did the littlest thing wrong.
The screenwriter chose an effective way of illustrating the point of attack, establishing the setting and handling of exposition. The first scene of the film was a black screen which had audio of a man and a woman having a conversation. After, the film switches to a grainy video of men being detained by police. The video clip manages to bring the dramatic tension to all time high because an unidentified character is shot by the police. Therefore, this left a sense of uneasiness and tension throughout the whole film. The beginning of the film also did a wonderful job of establishing the setting. The scene of the grainy video clip had a caption box stating it was “Fruitvale BART Station 2:15AM New Year’s Day 2009”. The film then introduces the
The first scene of the movie shows a man walking up stairs in a very nice house. We do not know who the man is but we do know he is of high importance because of the way he is acting in the house. He walks into the house and immediately discusses plans with someone, then he gives his jacket to a maid to clean, finally he comes into contact with a beautiful lady. This first scene is extremely important because
The director Roman Polanski likes to make a lot of scenes in his movies through doorways and windows, and the reason of that is simply because in that way, he creates a bigger sympathy with the audience, they get to see the films from the main characters o...
The Alfred Hitchcock film; Vertigo is a narrative film that is a perfect example of a Hollywood Classical Film. I will be examining the following characteristics of the film Vertigo: 1)individual characters who act as casual agents, the main characters in Vertigo, 2)desire to reach to goals, 3)conflicts, 4)appointments, 5)deadlines, 6)James Stewart’s focus shifts and 7)Kim Novak’s characters drives the action in the film. Most of the film is viewed in the 3rd person, except for the reaction shots (point of view shot) which are seen through the eyes of the main character.(1st person) The film has a strong closure and uses continuity editing(180 degree rule). The stylistic (technical) film form of Vertigo makes the film much more enjoyable. The stylistic film form includes camera movements, editing, sound, mise-en-scene and props.
The setting of the house where Josef and Marie lived was a very good example of what most non-Jewish people would live in. It was small, but cosy just enough for two people. It also included a pantry which was turned into a shelter for David. Not many shots were taken out of the house and that ones that were taken of the street told the audience a lot, especially during the resistance. That scene showed people blowing up houses where collaborators lived, breaking glass windows, and running around the street chaotic. The cinematic techniques added much emotion to the story created on screen. Everytime there was a very important section or Nazis knocking on Josef's door, the cameras seemed to be slowing down just a little bit, as if to tell the audience "Okay, now it's the time to pay attention." Throughout the film, Hrebejk knew where to put the cameras in order to get the best take of a scene, which enhanced the view of watching the movie and added suspence to it.
The film I have chosen to explore the micro features on is The Pianist (2002) which is directed by Roman Polanski. Polanski assures that the audience gets a sense of belonging to that period of history and gets to explore the theme of discrimination through the characters life risking challenges that they face throughout the film. This micro essay will explore the following features, framing and camera movement in a 5 minute sequence.
Many of the first film elements that can be found in this movie work as an introduction to the two main characters of the story. These elements are meant to force the spectator- even one who had never heard speak of, or seen the two Hollywood stars shown on screen- to focus their attention on them.
Racism, persecution, and finally extermination; these were the terrible things that Gypsies, Russians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Homosexuals and Jews had to face during World War II. Hitler took power in January 30, 1933 becoming the prime minister of Germany (Judy L. Hasday p. 12). By 1945, Germans, or the Nazis, had killed nearly two out of every three European Jews as part of the "Final Solution," the Nazi policy to murder the Jews of Europe (U.S. Memorial Museum). More than six million Jewish men, women, and children had been annihilated (Judy L. Hasday p. 12). German authorities were exterminating Jews and many others that were considered inferior to the Aryans. Hitler believed any one that was not an Aryan was inferior to their pure race. He believed in a race that included fair skin, blond hair, and blue eyes a pure German blood. The ones who did not meet these standards were considered a menace to the world. The Holocaust was their “Final Solution” (Gerald Reitlinger 1953). In the movie The Pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman and all Jews were segregated from everything they had to share with Germans, this included restaurants, bars, and simple things like sidewalks. When Hitler had gotten to power he ordered to boycott all Jewish stores. This made it harder for Jews to survive. Then the authorities took everything the Jews had away, even their coins were worth less than a regular piece of metal. But why would anyone stay in the place where they are not wanted? The Pianist is a film that is historically correct because it portrays the cruelty that took place during the holocaust; it showed how much families struggled together to survive in the concentration camps.
Therefore, it is possible to notice how the cinematography, the mise-en-scene and the editing are used to resemble the peculiarities of the space in which the actions are taking place. For instance, the first part is characterized by long pan or tilt shots, the camera is steady but still manages to follow the characters actions. The editing points to the linear occurring of the events. Also, the characters and the objects are usually methodically placed in the scene. All of the elements are used to convey the rigid organization, efficiency and control typical of the military environment. On the other hand, in the second part, there are usually shorter shots and steadicam shots. The camera is free to investigate the space of action. Here, the editing is used to create a dynamic perception of the events. In this way Kubrick is able to bring in the spectators’ minds the chaotic reality of the war. Moreover, colors become another tool to communicate to the audience this sort of split within the film. In fact, after Pyle’s death the viewer can notice how those metallic and cold colors, that are present at the beginning of the film, shift into wormer colors. It is actually through Pyle’s suicide that the the spectator gets this switch. In that scene the dark red blood stains, and ideologically violates, the cold white tiles of the bathroom. This film is also different on
This documentary like film begins with Oskar Schindler getting ready to make the deal of a life time by getting in good with the Nazi Officers. Schindler was a man that knew how to smooze people. He would wine and dine them with the best of wine, food, and women, which was not a cheap thing to do, especially during World War II. He was fond of saying, "Presentation is everything."
The Holocaust is one of the most dreadful and unforgettable time in human history. This event of a huge genocide has become the topic of many films; and “The Pianist” is one of them.“The Pianist” is a historical drama directed by Roman Polanski. Personally, I think this is a great movie that is worthy to watch. Through the realistic scenes in the film, the touching performances of Adrien Brody, and the unique way which the film was shot, Polanski has successfully brought the audience to experience the terror of the Holocaust and the hope and strength for survival.
This report will discuss the career of prominent Italian architect, Renzo Piano. Topics discussed include: design approach, influences, building typology and the materials used, as well as a biography of Renzo.