Introduction
It is hard to disagree that movies are not only created for entertainment. Films are a unique way of communication, and directors can use an extended number of various tools and methods to convey information to millions of people. In movies, it may be essential to find valuable sequences and explore the technique in which they are made (Bordwell et al. 29). For example, in Bless Their Little Hearts, there are many important and insightful sequences, but the one chosen for this paper is from 00:16:00 to 00:18:42. Although some people may find the selected sequence insignificant, one may argue that it is vital for understanding the inner state of the male character, the tension between the close persons, and the environment in their household.
The Selected Sequence
As mentioned above, the sequence chosen for this paper is from 1984 Bless Their Little Hearts, directed by Billy Woodberry and starring Kaycee Moore and Nate Hardman. In this sequence, the audience can see the interaction between the family members: a depressed and unemployed Charlie Banks, his wife Andais, and their children. The tension between them, as well as hidden hope for the better, is evident from their looks. Though the spouses are not arguing in this scene, they are in a challenging and stressful situation. In addition, the work of the camera and the choice of shots add to the general picture and allow the audience to better understand the situation.
Mise-en-Scène
One may consider it difficult to find any meaning behind the mise-en-scène in this sequence. However, it is quite important to analyze the setting, the costumes, the way the spouses sit, and how lightning is arranged. This analysis may provide the audience with valuable insights regarding the relationships between the family members, as well as the circumstances they live (Bordwell et al. 112). Indeed, since increased attention is devoted to this sequence by the director, it is recommended that the viewers find hidden meanings behind it.
The Setting and Lightning
To begin with, the audience can first see the two characters – the spouses sitting in the kitchen. The room is not richly furnished. The table and chairs are quite simple and, one might assume, quite old. Despite this, the kitchen is quite cozy, there are beautiful curtains, and it is quite a light room. Thanks to the first shot, the viewers can see the same setting for almost two minutes, and it is possible to draw specific conclusions during this time.
First of all, one may assume that the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house: the spouses discuss their situation while sitting in the kitchen, and the following scene also takes place in it. Second, despite the unemployment of, Charlie Banks, his wife, keeps the kitchen clean and comfortable, not allowing it to symbolize the family’s poverty. Finally, there is no food on the table, which again reminds the viewers about the family’s low income and adverse condition. Finally, in this sequence, three-point lightning is used; it does not play a great role in the scene but highlights the gestures and facial expressions of the actors.
The Costumes
Further, it is possible to analyze the costumes of the actors. Both Charlie and Andais are wearing simple outfits, which again signifies their low income and relates the viewers to them. The spouses are simple persons, and their short conversation in the kitchen is merely a moment in a long and difficult day. Andais is wearing a home dressing gown and a housewife’s headdress. It can be seen that she is not going anywhere, planning to focus on her household chores. At the same time, Charlie has put on a white T-shirt, trousers, and outside shoes. Although he is unemployed, it may seem that he is planning to go somewhere and does not want to sit at home in the middle of a working day in home clothes.
Acting
Further, the way the actors act in the scene also plays an essential role in understanding the sequence and relating it to the movie as a whole. It is evident that the main in the sequence is the father: he is bigger than his family members, he is acting more freely, and his abrupt body gestures and movements indicate that he is irritated, nervous, and angry with the situation. When he is using the fingernail clippers to make the son’s nails shorter, Andais is almost motionless; she does not intervene, but her facial expressions show that she does not approve of her husband’s actions and pities her son. Overall, it is possible to say that, in this sequence, the purpose of the mise-en-scène is to achieve realism and let the actors perform as naturally as possible.
Medium Long Shot
It is rather interesting that the major part of the sequence is one medium-long shot. It takes almost two minutes (00:16:00-00:17:50), and while new characters enter the scene, the camera is not moving. Generally, it is possible to say that the purpose of the medium-long shot is to portray the situation and show a mix of a character’s facial expressions and body language. Overall, since the camera is motionless, the viewers can feel that they are a part of the movie: one is also sitting in the kitchen together with the family and has to observe the father taking out anger and stress on his son.
Close-Up Shots
In the selected sequence, there are several close-up shots showing the boy’s, the mother’s, and the father’s faces, as well as the hands of the boy. When the audience can see the face of the child, it is evident that he is scared of his father; this close-up shot is necessary because it portrays the emotions of the boy. Further, the close-up of Charlie’s hands using the fingernail clippers also allow the viewers to see how harshly he does this; one may understand that the father wants to find an opportunity to express his disappointment and unhappiness. The close-up of his face also shows interesting emotions – he is lost, he does not know what to do, and he almost regrets his actions. Finally, the medium close-up shot of Andais’s face portrays her sympathy for her son.
Conclusion
To draw a conclusion, one may say that the selected sequence is of extreme interest and importance for understanding the film. Generally, it is a valuable series of shots revealing the emotions and inner states of the family members: the father, the mother, and the son. They are stressed, and the relationships between them become rather challenging. Overall, the brilliant camera work and the combination of the setting, costumes, and acting make this sequence rather valuable.
Work Cited
Bordwell, David, et al. Film Art: An Introduction. McGraw Hill Education, 2017.