Choose a 5 minute scene and analyze it through the lens of a cultural context of your choice. Be sure to cover 2-3 cinematic elements in your analysis.
The scene that I chose to analyze was the scene in which Tony Le “Stéphanois” visits Mado at the L’ Âge d’Or, the nightclub that is owned by one of Tony’s enemies. After finding out that Mado is working for him and is deeply involved with his gang, Tony viciously beats her at his house and then proceeds to kick her out. As this is the first violent scene in the film, the shock value is enough to intrigue audiences. However, the scene’s intensity is heightened by the use of cinematography and sound. As comedy is sometimes used throughout the rest of the film to lighten a particularly dark situation, the lack of comedic relief in this scene alludes to the overall violence that can be expected to follow. From the beginning, this is establishing Tony as a man with questionable morals. Although the historical setting of this film would have likely turned a blind eye to beating a woman, it was still mildly frowned upon. The cinematography in this scene places Tony in several shots in which he is staring down at Mado. When they are both at L’Âge D’Or, there are several low angle shots of Tony and high angle shots of Mado. This establishes Tony’s power over Mado and slightly foreshadows that he has the upper hand in the next scene, in which he beats her. The cinematography doesn't allow the viewer to see what is happening when Tony is beating Mado. The camera stays on Mado as Tony instructs her to undress and then creeps closer as he pushes her behind a wall that the public cannot see. Instead, it focuses on a picture of them both together, seemingly happy, on the wall through the whole time she is being beaten. The choice to not show what is happening and focus on the public image that the two present is fitting for the time period. The idea that Mado is okay, only because she appears to be on the outside, despite being horrifically beaten with a belt (quite literally) behind closed doors. Another cinematic element used in this scene is sound. The heart-wrenching sounds of Mado crying out accompanied by the sound of Tony's belt allow for a vivid depiction of what is happening. Although the audience cannot see what is happening, they can definitely hear it, which is almost worse. Mado's condition is left to the imagination as Tony shows no remorse after he has finished, dragging her out of his house.
This being said, Tony’s morals are definitely made to look controversial in this scene, so that when he and his friends later break into the jewelry store, it is not much of a surprise and they are not seen as the guilty party. The historical context of motivation for doing so would be the wake of destruction that WWII left not only a decade before. As the Nazi occupation in France ended, the people were left with no form of government and essentially had to start over from scratch. Poverty rates were growing due to the lack of production coming from the country. Additionally, the lack of income in the country was declining as well. With an unstable government and the end of global imperialism, many of France’s colonies were seizing opportunities for independence. All of these factors, along with attempted coups and constitutional changes, led to an increase in violence and desperation for money, which is evident within the film.
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ReplyDeleteThe scene that I chose to analyze was the scene in which Tony Le “Stéphanois” visits Mado at the L’ Âge d’Or, the nightclub that is owned by one of Tony’s enemies. After finding out that Mado is working for him and is deeply involved with his gang, Tony viciously beats her at his house and then proceeds to kick her out. As this is the first violent scene in the film, the shock value is enough to intrigue audiences. However, the scene’s intensity is heightened by the use of cinematography and sound. As comedy is sometimes used throughout the rest of the film to lighten a particularly dark situation, the lack of comedic relief in this scene alludes to the overall violence that can be expected to follow. From the beginning, this is establishing Tony as a man with questionable morals. Although the historical setting of this film would have likely turned a blind eye to beating a woman, it was still mildly frowned upon. The cinematography in this scene places Tony in several shots in which he is staring down at Mado. When they are both at L’Âge D’Or, there are several low angle shots of Tony and high angle shots of Mado. This establishes Tony’s power over Mado and slightly foreshadows that he has the upper hand in the next scene, in which he beats her. The cinematography doesn't allow the viewer to see what is happening when Tony is beating Mado. The camera stays on Mado as Tony instructs her to undress and then creeps closer as he pushes her behind a wall that the public cannot see. Instead, it focuses on a picture of them both together, seemingly happy, on the wall through the whole time she is being beaten. The choice to not show what is happening and focus on the public image that the two present is fitting for the time period. The idea that Mado is okay, only because she appears to be on the outside, despite being horrifically beaten with a belt (quite literally) behind closed doors. Another cinematic element used in this scene is sound. The heart-wrenching sounds of Mado crying out accompanied by the sound of Tony's belt allow for a vivid depiction of what is happening. Although the audience cannot see what is happening, they can definitely hear it, which is almost worse. Mado's condition is left to the imagination as Tony shows no remorse after he has finished, dragging her out of his house.
This being said, Tony’s morals are definitely made to look controversial in this scene, so that when he and his friends later break into the jewelry store, it is not much of a surprise and they are not seen as the guilty party. The historical context of motivation for doing so would be the wake of destruction that WWII left not only a decade before. As the Nazi occupation in France ended, the people were left with no form of government and essentially had to start over from scratch. Poverty rates were growing due to the lack of production coming from the country. Additionally, the lack of income in the country was declining as well. With an unstable government and the end of global imperialism, many of France’s colonies were seizing opportunities for independence. All of these factors, along with attempted coups and constitutional changes, led to an increase in violence and desperation for money, which is evident within the film.