Mise-en-scène Thread

[Bluprint]

Mise-en-scène is essentially metaphorical cues put inside of the scene. When you watch a film everything or anything including the actors, extras, layout, set pieces, lighting, props, and score have been strategically placed wherever you see or hear them within the scene. Mise-en-scène is very important to film interpretation and overall understanding of motion picture art and director's intent. For those who are aware of mise-en-scène could you please breakdown apart of a film and explain or interpret the deeper connection of filmatic placement of things you hear and or see within the scene.

Here's one of my many breakdowns I will post:

[The Best of Hitch] - North by Northwest - 5.tunnnel - YouTube

In this scene from North by Northwest, when the train goes through the tunnel it is a metaphor for "sex". Much like early novels, films had to use metaphors as "representation for sex". The first Vampire novels used the imagery or "teeth extending" to symbolize "erection". And the "Vampire's teeth piercing into flesh" to symbolize "penetration" and lastly the "sucking of blood" to symbolize the exchanges of "bodily fluids". By taking this into context, in the last scene, featured in North by Northwest we can see the director's true intention on his strategic placement shot of the train "entering the hole" of the tunnel during Eve & Roger's passionate exchange.

Much like any other form of art "interpretation may vary". So always be sure to state your interpretation of any scene featured or not featured in this thread. Some can be straight forward while others are much more complex. But please feel free to share, and thanks.

[legendarymatt92]

Not sure if this needs a thread. It's a great topic and could be discussed for hours, but not sure it works in this way.

Maybe that's just me, though.

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by legendarymatt92

Not sure if this needs a thread. It's a great topic and could be discussed for hours, but not sure it works in this way.

Maybe that's just me, though.

I'm interested.

But we need to remember that...

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

.

[Bluprint]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

I'm interested.

But we need to remember that...

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

.

So.very,true!

[Mandalorian]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

I'm interested.

But we need to remember that...

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

.

Ha! Great post, and I like the idea of this thread. Would like to see where it goes. I'm surprised there isn't a thread already for mise en scene vs montage, or something.

[legendarymatt92]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

I'm interested.

But we need to remember that...

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

.

. I just thought too many people's opinions would make this more of an argumentative thread than anything...

...then I remembered the Star Wars and Man of Steel threads.

This should fit right in here then.

[Romulus]

Interesting thread, I just graduated last night in Film Studies and we definitely covered mise-en-scene quite a bit.

Off the top of my head I remembered this scene:

Deep Focus - Citizen Kane - YouTube

The placement of the characters in this scene is crucial. In a nutshell, the closer the character is to the camera, the more powerful the character is in the scene. In this example, Kane's mother is the one with the idea of sending Kane away from their home. The father is placed further back than the mother and the man with the papers, as his voice seemingly has absolutely zero effect on them. His arguments go largely unheard. At the very back of the scene in the window is Kane, playing in the snow. His placement outside the house emphasizes his lack of control in the matter. Also, the snow represents Kane's only period in his life of true happiness--this is further emphasized by by the famous phrase "Rosebud".

[legendarymatt92]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Interesting thread, I just graduated last night in Film Studies and we definitely covered mise-en-scene quite a bit.

Off the top of my head I remembered this scene:

Deep Focus - Citizen Kane - YouTube

The placement of the characters in this scene is crucial. In a nutshell, the closer the character is to the camera, the more powerful the character is in the scene. In this example, Kane's mother is the one with the idea of sending Kane away from their home. The father is placed further back than the mother and the man with the papers, as his voice seemingly has absolutely zero effect on them. His arguments go largely unheard. At the very back of the scene in the window is Kane, playing in the snow. His placement outside the house emphasizes his lack of control in the matter. Also, the snow represents Kane's only period in his life of true happiness--this is further emphasized by by the famous phrase "Rosebud".

You could talk about any scene within Citizen Kane having some symbolic or thematic meaning - it's such a richly constructed piece of cinema that it definitely earns its ranking as one of the best films of all time. Considering Welles was 25 at the time of making it and turned up to the first day of shooting without any real knowledge of how to make films, it's an exceptionally brilliant work of art. Welles, for me, is one of the greatest directors and actors of the 20th Century.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by legendarymatt92

You could talk about any scene within Citizen Kane having some symbolic or thematic meaning - it's such a richly constructed piece of cinema that it definitely earns its ranking as one of the best films of all time. Considering Welles was 25 at the time of making it and turned up to the first day of shooting without any real knowledge of how to make films, it's an exceptionally brilliant work of art. Welles, for me, is one of the greatest directors and actors of the 20th Century.

Absolutely. Citizen Kane isn't my favorite film of all time, but after analyzing the film on a number of occasions it's quite easy to see why its influential and considered one of the greatest of all time. Gregg Toland did an astounding piece of work with the cinematography--really sets itself apart from the Hollywood films that were made at the time.

[Bluprint]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Absolutely. Citizen Kane isn't my favorite film of all time, but after analyzing the film on a number of occasions it's quite easy to see why its influential and considered one of the greatest of all time. Gregg Toland did an astounding piece of work with the cinematography--really sets itself apart from the Hollywood films that were made at the time.

Great breakdown on character placement and the cinematography of Gregg Toland. I enjoyed reading your post so much and congrats on graduation and thanks for sharing!

[Romulus]

Thanks! Appreciate the kind words. Definitely feels good to be done with school, I certainly look forward to entering the film industry.