Setting in V for Vendetta

The setting is the place where the scene takes place, and what this means to the message of the movie, or the characters of the movie. Scenes in the film V for Vendetta in which setting was very important, where the scenes where Evey was in prison. The director effectively used setting in these scenes to give a felling to the audience, help show Evey’s changes and also help to show some of the movies themes.

 

In the scenes from 1:07:49 in the film, Evey is being held in prison. The prison is in an unknown location, there is no evidence as to where it is. It is dark, with no natural lighting, which in itself sends a very cold and unpleasant feeling through the audience.  The walls, floor and ceiling are all grey concrete, which creates a cold, and very unwelcoming environment. Evey’s cell is isolating and scary, to Evey and the audience. When Evey first arrives in to her cell, there are some eye of god shots which show Evey feels like she is unimportant and feels small inside. The setting of the cell and prison make her feel scared and frightened and also make her feel terror for what will happen soon.  She is surrounded in a scary and sad setting, and all she has is fear.  The setting of the cell helped the director show how the main character of Evey is feeling, and what she is thinking, and this gives the audience deeper in insight into her character. The dark and cold, altogether give an unpleasant feeling to the scene, but this changes when Evey find the letter.

Evey finds a letter from another prisoner, Valerie. It details of Valeries life, and the director changes the setting of the scene entirely by showing snapshots of Valerie life. It cuts from the terror of the cell, to a warm, lighten home. It shows Valerie in the sunshine on a farm, and Valerie happy with her girlfriend in a flat. The lighting changes dramatically as it cuts from Evey in darkness, to Valerie in the warm beautiful life she once had. However, Valeries is captured and the setting in her story becomes bleaker. The contrast in the two settings is very important because it showing Eveys changes. It is showing how the world once was, happy, beautiful and loving, to what it now is, unfair, scary and oppressive. It is showing that for the first time, Evey is realizing what is really happening and what has happened in her country, and that change really does need to happen, so that no more innocent people like Valerie are hurt. The setting shows how the experience in enlightening Evey, and creating what she wants, and what she wants to fight for. The contrast of the setting shows how much the society has actually changed, and what a terrible place it is now. The most important thing the two settings do is create more reason and means for rebellion, and the audience really understands what has happened. To Evey, the scenes show she is realizing what she should fight for, which is peace and happiness, rather than continuing to live under fear and terror. These two settings are crucial in creating who Evey is, and help her make decisions in what follows.

Mise en Scene in V for Vendetta

Mise en scene is a narrative feature, of all the things on the screen, used to install a feeling into the audience, or used to help convey a theme of the text. Parts of Mise-en-scene particularly prevalent in the film V for Vendetta were lighting, costume, performance and setting. Although these techniques were used throughout V for Vendetta, they were used particularly well in the scene were Evey is first interrogated in the prison, at around 1:06:50 in the film.

Lighting

 

The lighting is extremely effective in the scene where Evey is first being interrogated by the mystery man. Just before the scene, Evey is ‘black bagged’ and the screen goes pitch black, just like what Evey would be seeing under the bag. This is quite scary to the audience, as we hear Evey screaming and see nothing. This lighting here is showing fear, and the audience really get a sense of the terror Evey is feeling.  The darkness draws the audience in, and suddenly the bag is taken off, with a high contrast of Eveys white face to the darkness the screen had been before. Eveys face is lighten up by a spotlight that only illuminates her. The light is bright white and very harsh, showing how Evey feels in this scene. This is very interesting to the audience’s eye, as Evey looks as if she is caught in a shaft of light, and everything else around her is darkness, she also becomes the audience’s centre of attention.  This spotlight lighting shows the focus is all on Evey in this scene, and that she is very important (a spotlight alike to this one is also used to illuminate the main star of a play while on stage) It shows the importance Evey to her capturers and her decision, and how her decision to divulge information or not will change the path of the movie. It also shows the importance of this moment to Eveys character, and how it has a big part to play in who she becomes and what she is fighting for. The bigger meaning of the spotlight is to do with Eveys character and how important the moment is in the storyline, but is also to do with one of the main themes of the movie, ruling people with fear. The interrogation room is not only cold and concrete, but its spotlight lighting on Evey is very ominous and threatening. It shows how the government gets what they want through installing terror and fear into their people. This theme is also shown through another aspect of lighting in this scene, the lighting on the interrogator. The interrogator has no light on him, and he is completely in black, just a silhouette.  We cannot recognise him, so we do not know him, but he holds the power to kill Evey, and this makes him very threatening and scarier. The audience reacts in the same way as Evey to the capturer, with terror and fright. The lighting on the man also helps show the main theme of ruling with fear, and how much society has changed.  Today someone in suspicion would sit down with a police officer like normal, however, Evey is towered over by a dark and mysterious power figure, showing how much more this government rules with fear.  

  Costume

In this scene costume is also used to communicate with the audience.  Evey is dressed in a white singlet which creates a high visual contrast with her surroundings. This also brings our eye to Evey, and she stands out. As white is often associated with purity and innocence, it is suggesting Evey is truly innocent and full of virtue. As it also makes her stand out, the white singlet is also used to tell the watcher that Evey is the main focus in the scene, and the scene and what is happening is very important in her life.

The costume of the interrogator is non existent, he is a completely black silhouette, and there is no clothes or identity given to him. This creates a real sense of mystery around him, and makes him look scary and shady. Because there is no way to identify him, we, and Evey are more scared and frightened about who he is and what he has the power to do. We find out later, that the black silhouette is actually V. The director has had no costume on the capturer to create a higher sense of fear and power in the scene. The director used the white top to help further show how important the scene is to Evey, but also how she is truly pure at heart.  

 

Performance

 

Natalie Portman did an amazing performance in portraying Evey in this scene. She is shaking and her eyes are wide, her mouth open in a shocked expression. All of these aspects on Portman’s performance accurately show just how frightened and scared Evey is. The shaking especially shows she is in shock, and fears what will happen, and the wide eyes make her look like she is a deer caught in the headlights, they are full of dread and terror. It is obvious from Portman’s performance and body language how Evey is feeling. Portman’s performance was very important in this scene to heighten our sense of fear for Evey, and also shows what a big moment in Evey’s life this is. It also is important later on, when Evey is in the same situation again, and is cool, calm and collected. It shows accurately that indeed Eveys has no fear anymore, and in this scene she is visually full of terror, and later on, she has learnt to deal with fear.

The performance of the capturer is important as well. He acts in a very unfriendly and matter of fact way. His voice is quiet monotone, and he is very harsh. This shows the audience that he is the enemy in the scene, and he is holding the power to harm and kill Evey. His performance shock us and Evey, and also help to show one of the movies main themes, power over people. His performance shows how throwing threats around is scaring and manipulating the people. This shows that the government thinks that they can get and do whatever they want, by using fear and death as threats. It shows that ruling with fear is explosive and very bad for the people and society.  His performance gives in sight to the watcher of how bad things in this futuristic society really are, and we understand why it needs to change.

Props/Setting

The setting in this scene is definitely used to create a feeling and show a theme.  The scene is in an interrogation room. It is made out of concrete, is very dark and has no natural light. There is only a table, a chair and some table lights. The use of an interrogation room makes the focus on Evey, as she is under interrogation and is being treated like a criminal. Buy there being not much furniture, again makes the audience focus on Evey as she is the main thing in the scene. It also shows that Evey feels very uncomfortable in this alien environment. There is no natural light and this is really creepy. It personally made me feel more negative feelings towards the room and the situation, because without windows, it seems very trapping and uncomfortable. Having no windows also shows how Evey feels, isolated and alone. Having only bright white, artificial lighting also shows how the environment is very harsh and unforgiving, and made me personally feel creeped out. The concrete walls and floor makes the whole scene and situation feel very cold, gloomy, and scary. The director used this cold and harsh setting to show how scared and uncomfortable Evey is, and make the audience feel the doom and terror Evey may be feeling.

Symbols and Motifs in V for Vendetta

In the film 'V for Vendetta' directed by James McTeigue, the use of the narrative feature of  symbols and motifs accurately help to show the main themes of the movie. A symbol is a object which represents an idea. In V for Vendetta, the symbolism of the V, the party's emblem, the shot of Chancellor Sutler, and the mask all help to show the main ideas of the film.

 

One of the main things that the audience sees as a symbol is the V within a circle, often seen in red. This symbol is everywhere and  reoccurs many times in the film, which really hammers into the audience the importance of this symbol. It is one of the first things we see of modern times, and
reappear throughout the film. It is the symbol of the character V, and his movement and rebellion against he governments ways. It begins to appear more as the movie progresses, like being spray painted on walls and being made out of dominos. This shows how the symbol of the rebellion is growing stronger, and how, although it is just a symbol it now holds power in the people, and people believe in what it stands for. it becomes a symbol for the uprising, and for people rebelling against the controlling government and breaking free from the fear installed in them. The symbolism of the V helps to show one of V for Vendettas main themes, rebellion. It shows how when a symbol's idea  is believed in by people it gains power and becomes a force. I believe that this still happens today in the real world, with people willing to fight for their flag, or fight or do something for a cause or idea. The actual design of the logo shows V surrounded by a circle. This shows how the actual character of V began the revolution, and know the idea of it has spread around the people. It is also coloured red which is the colour of extremes. It's the colour of passion, seduction, violence, danger, anger, and adventure. This further shows what V is fighting for, the right to be able to be free and to do what you want to.  However, it also symbolizes the anger and thirst for revenge that V has, and shows that maybe his intentions arent as pure as the audience thinks.

There is also the symbolism of the baptism of the two main characters. We see the scene of Evey, standing, being washed in the rain, and cut into this is the scene of V in the fire. These scenes symbolize a rebirth, and show the importance of this moment to the characters spirit and being.

In the scene of V, he is surrounded by fire, showing he is burnt and scarred.  He was made and created by fire, which symbolizes he has anger from his rebirth. This is the moment that creates V, as a vengeful and violent human. This further shows that V is not entirely the perfect freedom fighter, he is full of angry fire, and is out to get revenge.

However, Eveys baptism is in the rain. She is being washed, perhaps symbolizing the washing away of her sins, and cleansing her being. This symbolizes she is pure and true, and is in the revolution for the right reasons. She welcomes the rain and her rebirth, where as V is angry. The symbolism of the Eveys baptism shows she is a good person, and that she isn't filled with anger as V is, but she is full of virtue and morality, and is part of the revolution for the right reasons. This is further enhanced by a real baptism, showing she is saintly and angelic, and has good values.
The symbolism of the baptisms help the audience understand the characters of V and Evey more, as to why they want to start the revolution. The audience sees their rebirth and the changing of these characters lives as they are reborn. The baptisms in both cases created theses two characters, and changed their future.

 

The Guy Fawkes mask is also a big symbol in V for Vendetta. The mask is what we see of the main character, V. Other people also start to wear the mask, and at the end, all of the protestors wear it. V wears it to hide who he is because he was burnt so badly in the fire. However, it becomes a symbol for the rebellion and fighting for freedom form the government. It is a mask of Guy Fawkes, and this makes it seem to the audience like V holds the same motives and Guy Fawkes does. One of the biggest things the mask represents is hiding who V is. This makes it so V could be anyone, showing that the freedom he is fighting for would mean something to everyone. This is further shown when Evey says "he was all of us."  As the audience and V himself do not know his past, the mask, the ideas he is fighting for becomes him when he has the mask on. His identity is the mask, and what the mask symbolises. By wearing the mask,  V becomes something larger than human. He becomes the living embodiment of an ideal. This is something that more people can follow and believe in. When other people start to wear the mask, it becomes even more of a symbol of rebellion, and when everyone wears it to the parliament, it shows that although everyone is different there is the same need for freedom and want for justice that V has, within everyone. The symbolism of the mask really helped show the films main ideas of rebellion, and how ideas are stronger than a man, and can be within everyone.

 

 

Mostly every time we see Chancellor Sutler, the shots of him are zoomed up close and projected onto the wall, making him giant in comparison with the other people in the scene. By the director doing this, it is symbolising the great power and strength of Sutler, and how he is in charge, and that he is all powerful. It shows he is the leader, and a kind of big brother. It also effectively shows how Sutler is villainous, because he is the only one so big, he is the dictator, and he rules with fear.  This depiction of Sutler as a large and all powerful character shows the themes of totalitarian and the terrible affect that ruling with fear has on a country.  

Sound in The Piano

The Narrative feature of Sound is a big part of the film The Piano. Both silence and music are used to create meaning.

Silence

The film The Piano has a lot of silence in it. One big reason for this is that the main character, Ada, does not speak. The scenes with her in them are filled with mystery and the audience is intrigued as to what she is thinking, and what she will do next. Scenes such as the one at 74:23, when Ada visits Baines, are slightly uncomfortable and eerie. The fact she doesn’t speak creates a lot of tension between the characters and makes the audience feel this tension. Adas silence symbolizes her anguish at being oppressed and her feeling like she cannot  express herself in her society. The silence utilised in The Piano is very different from other films, and I believe it breaks the convention of many romance movies. The audience cannot focus or sing along to the classic rom-com music, so the audience notice more about the characters, mise en scene, and visual elements. Ada is silent, and this is creates a very peculiar dynamic in scenes. The silence is long and drawn out, and so are the words that are spoken. The silence makes the audience really listen and try to interpret the things the characters say. I believe the silence really helps contribute to the dark and grim undertones of the movie, and enforces Adas feeling of opression and feeling like she cant express herself in her society.   

Music

Music plays a big part in The Piano. The music score is mostly piano music, and one song in particular is repeated throughout the film. The music actually represents Ada’s voice, her thoughts and her feelings. We can listen to the music and know what she feels. Ada herself says “I do not make myself quiet. That is because of my Piano.” The same song is repeated throughout the film. This helps show the continuity of Ada's character throughout the movie, mirroring the way she is always stubborn and refuses to stay in her gender role. However, the song is played differently in different parts of the film. There are different intensitys, tempos, volumes, that help to create a different meaning, moods and atmospheres in different scenes.
For instance, in the climax scene, it is played getting louder, and keeps doubling in speed. This is a big part of the building intensity and creating the effective climax the scene is. The change in the tune shows the audience Adas changing feelings and thoughts. The past pace and loud playing of the music in the finger cutting scene shows the audience Ada feels threatened and scared. As the fight moves outside, the tempo doubles again, mirroring the fright and desperation Ada is feeling in this scene.
Another scene is when Ada must leave the Piano on the beach. The song is played slowly and with sadness, showing Ada doesn’t feel comfortable with leaving the piano. It is played softly and thoughfully, showing that Ada is thinking about the importance of the piano and expression to her. 
When Ada visits the Piano on the beach, she plays the song quickly and spritely. This shows she feels happy that she can again express her feelings.
 Another example of the music accurately mirroring what Ada is feeling Is when Ada plays in her sleep. The music is loud and she plays angrily, stabbing at the keys. This shows her anger at her husband for keeping her locked up. The careless and angry sound of the song, and loud tempo of the song at this point in the movie gives Ada a chance to express herself. The audience sees her exasperation at being confined to her gender role, and being opreesed by her husband, two main themes from the film.  
When Ada is in Nelson at the end of the movie, the music is steady and played in major. This gives the audience the impression that Ada is fulfilled and finally happy. The sad undertones are gone and the conflict has been resolved. Using the piano music as another outlet to create characters emotion helps the audience see yet another aspect to how they are feeling. The tone of the actual music gives a feeling to the audience.  I have never seen a movie where the music has such an impression on the audience, and has passed a mood through me.   

Mise-en-scène in the Piano

 ‘Mise-en-scène’ are all the things on the screen that create a message and a vibe. It is the arrangement of everything on the screen that help the director communicate their ideas. Aspects of Mise-en-scène include lighting, costume and setting. In the film The Piano, director Jane Campion uses the narrative feature of Mise-en-scène very effectively to create powerful meaning and feelings. One of the most prevalent scenes Campion used this in, is the scene where Alistair cuts off Ada’s finger. 

Lighting

Lighting was used extremely effectively in the scene where Ada’s finger gets chopped off, and throughout the whole movie. When Alistair confronts Ada in the house, (97:13), the lighting is warm and homely. This makes the audience feel conflicted and confused. The warm lighting looks normal, and this makes the the audience really focus in on the fight that is unfolding. The normal lighing is contrasted with the abnormal scene. However, as the couple move the fight to outside, (97:37) the lighting changes dramatically. It suddenly becomes dark and gloomy. Everything looks bleaker and scarier. This sends a negative feeling to the audience, and the audience feels more scared and worried. The dark lighting in this scene helps to raise the intensity, and also is used to surround the characters in gloom and despair. the dark lighting makes the audience feel more uneasy, and really reflects Adas feeling at the time. She feels scared, a colur which is often shown in dark, black colours. Lighting is also used very well in the rest of the film. One other example is the way Campion uses lighting to reflect how Ada feels. For example, in Baines house, when Ada realizes she loves him, there is light shining in the window, and Ada is illuminated. This shows the audience that she feels happy and finally has a place she can belong. Another example is when Ada plays the piano on the beach. Sunlight streams onto Ada’s face and she smiles. To the audience she looks brighter and happier. Campion shows, through the lighting that Ada feels happiness when she is playing the piano and expressing herself.

Setting

Setting is a big part of Mise-en-scène which helps evoke a feeling in the audience. The Piano was shot on location on the rugged west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The setting is dark, cold, harsh and scary. The setting made Ada feel isolated and scared, in what should  have been her happy home. The woods are wet,muddy and filthy, and it is a very unpleasant place. The grim setting gives the audience a miserable feel, and scenes in the harsh environment feel more desperate and cruel. In the scene where Ada’s finger is cut off, at 98:31 there is torrential rain, dark lighting and mud. These combined give a horrible feel to the scene. It feels cold, sad, hopeless and desolate. The thunder storm also helps add to the intensity. There are also fallen trees spiking out of the ground. These give the feeling the setting is unforgiving and scary, and makes the setting look more brutal and violent. The harsh setting of this particular scene helps reflect the violence the Alistair is showing and also helps make  the scene the terrible climax it is. The terrrible setting of the entire movie reflects Adas emotjions, and shows how she is sad and lonely, and not happy in her home. The film is also set in a historical period  which is very important to creating the character of Ada. Because of the time and place, Ada is forced to do what she is told, and is oppressed by Alistair. She is supposed to stay at home and be the perfect wife to Alistair, but she chooses not to.      

Costume

Ada's costume is very important in the movie. It symbolises her oppression, as she is forced to wear the large uncomfortable thing by society. It represents her being held to what society tells her to do, and what she supposed to be. she feels trapped, both by the cage-like dress, and by societies rules that she is supposed to follow.  However, Ada also uses the dress as protection, both on the beach and from Alasdair advances.  Ada always wears dark colours, blacks and browns. This makes her look sad and unhappy all of the time, as she is surrounded in a colour that evokes sadness in the audience. However, we see this change at the end of the movie. Adas new dress is not as big, and a blue floral pattern. This shows she is opening up, and becoming happier. She no longer feels uncomfortable, and can now express herself, and love who ahe wishes. 
Another character who's costume was important was Flora. She is not yet condemned to wear the burdens of being a women in that time period, so her costume changes throughout the movie. In the scene where Ada's finger is cut off, her costume is very important. She is dressed in white with angel wings, showing she is innocent and pure, and tried to do the right thing, however, as soon as she make the decision to take the note to Alistair and not Baines, she becomes dirty and guilty. The storm and mud makes her covered in dirt, and then her mothers blood splatters on her and her clothes. This shows she has seen the consequences to her actions and that she has hurt her mother.       

Visual Elements in The Piano

Visual Elements are visible characteristics which contribute to the appearance of something; in this case this is elements such as camera angle, camera movement, editing pace, special effects and shot sizes. The film The Piano, in the scene beginning at 1:30:30 and ending at 1:35:19, the narrative feature of Visual Elements is used very effectively.

When Flora is taking the message to Alistair, there is a close up of her face, as she spins around. This shows that she thinks about changing her path, and that her decision will have a large effect. This shot emphasises the loss of innocence in Flora, one of the major themes in this scene.  It then cuts to a low angle shot of Flora running up the hill. This shows that she hold the power to decide what will happen and is influential to the scene. This shot shows the audience what an important scene this is, and what an important decision this is. This shot is strange and stands out, becuase it is very different form other camera angles in the movie. As Flora is often the small child, who does not make decisions that change te course of the movie. However, she is seen here with the power to effect other characters. There is another low angle shot, when Flora gives the love note to Alistair, The camera then begins to follow Alistair and leave Flora behind. This shot shows Alistair now holds the power to decide what happens next, and he and that he intends to hurt Ada. The audience begins to feel more dread about what will happen, beacause the power is now with a angry and strong man, who carries an axe. This shot in combination with the dark, cold and harsh enviroment makes the audience feel the negative vibes and the terror that something is about to happen to the likable main character. 

The movie then cuts to a travelling shot in the dark forest. Trees and braches go in front of the camera and the audience is confused about what is happening. The desperate manner of the shot is mirroring the anguish Alistair is feeling. It is at this point where the pace quickens. As the film is mostly edited at a slow and prolonged pace, this is different and the audience realizes the importance and drama of the scene. The shot and pace makes the audience realize that a climax is coming, and also captivates us to keep watching to see what Alistair does. There is then a close up of the axe held in Alistair hand (1:32:23) this shot is emphasizing the importance of the axe and is foreshadowing the future. The importance of the axe was foreshadowed in a previous scene, when the play was being performes. This shot show the audience the gravity of the situation, and we feel fear and worry for Ada, as we know Alistair is erratic, has a harmful weapon, and will hurt her. The audience of the movie react to the axe the same way the audience of the play react to to the axe in the play. They are scared and upset, and feel dread for the woman being hurt.

The shots in the sequence at the house (1:32:37) follows Ada and Alistair’s dance like fight. We focus both on Alistair’s anger and Adas silence. Campion has effectively shown both of their emotions. Alistair’s through his dialogue and performance, and Adas through camera shots and performance. The extreme close up of the thread (97:16) and close up of Ada looking at it shows that Ada is thinking about what she should be, decided by society. This shot helps show one of the movies main themes, womens gender roles. This shot shows the audience what Ada should be acting like, but also, how Ada rejects this gender role, and wants to do what she wants. The audience in this day and age agree with Ada on this topic, and believe women should be free to do what they want to.She should speak and assure her husband she doesn’t love Baines, and go back to living the life a women was meant to lead. But she stares straight at the thread and doesn’t say anything. These two close ups show us that Ada is defiant, and doesn’t wish to lead the life she was supposed to. It also shows the audience just how much freedom andliberty women have these days.  Another close up, of the axe hitting the piano (97:07) shows us how Ada feels. As the Piano is a symbol for an extension of her being and her expression and it has just been attacked, Ada herself feels like he is being assaulted and she cannot express herself and choose for herself. This is related to the theme of gender roles also, because Ada's expression and freedom is being controlled by her husband. 

As they move outside, the camera focuses on Ada and her struggle. We are on the level down with Ada and we are associating with her. We see her helpless and desperate fight to get away and the tension builds. We feel the inevitability that something bad will happen to her. This shot shows the opression of women, because Ada must do what hr husband tells her, or else, she will have a cruel punishment like this. The editing pace is a big part of creating the drama of the climax. The quicker pace makes Adas struggle seem more desperate and makes her seem more distressed. At 98:08 there is an extreme close up of Adas hand, moving to a close up of her face. This shot effectively shows she is being held down and dominated by the man. This shot shows the character of ada's strength, (because she still does not speak) and her refusal to live under the gender roles, and be opressed by man. I personally felt in this scene a kind of want, a need for Ada to say something, so that Alistair wont hurt her. Campion has drawn the audience in, and the audience must watch with fear to see what will happen to Ada. The audience again feels her powerlessness and dread for what will happen.