Thelma and Louise (1991)
Screen Shot Analysis
Director: Ridley Scott
Release date: 1991
Director: Ridley Scott
Release date: 1991
Location:
- The location of the scene is in a car park. This is a classic generic convention which establishes the thriller genre. The car park is used as a confined space that makes the characters feel alone and scared.
- Within the mise-en-scene, both characters show different emotions.
- The female character looks shocked. We can tells this by the over expressing of the eyes. Eyes are important features within thriller films as they show fear and tension within the scene for the character. The reason why the eyes are over expressed in this scene is because the female character - The "Femme-Fatale" is stepping out of place from a male dominated world, she is worried about what will happen to herself.
- The male looks worried and stressed about the actions of the female. He is worried about what she would do in a male dominated world. Especially as she is holding a gun. The gun is often used to symbolise male power. The female character shoots the man in the heart. This can represent that the males in the film have no respect for female welfare.
- The lighting within the image is ambient which is very dark and is almost shown as a Noir-like thriller. This could of been used to represent the female presence within the male world, by doing this the female character is dressed in colourful clothes whereas the male is dressed plainly.
- The camera angle used is a medium close up. The medium close up is used to capture both the male and the female's emotions at the same time. This is important as the emotions shown represent the characters personality in the scene.
- The only prop used in this scene is the use of a gun. The gun is often used in thriller films as it is a generic item found within the thriller genre. The use of a gun symbolises male dominance, however, as a female is holding the gun the director is challenging the generic convention.
Inter-textuality:
- During the ending scene of the film, Thelma and Louise are on the run from the police. They decide it is in their best interests to drive off the edge of the Grand Canyon than being court by the police. I haven't seen this film before but I remember a scene from an episode of "The Simpsons" which follows the same plot of the film.
This episode is called "Marge On The Lam". This is when a character called "Marge Simpson" becomes friends with "Ruth Powers" who has moved next-door. Ruth Powers drives a blue convertible. The blue convertible is an intertextual reference as it is the same colour and type of car which is used in "Thelma and Louise (1991)". The blue convertible can also represent that both characters are Femme-Fatatles. They are stylish, glamorous, attractive and eye catching.
Near the end of this episode, the two girls are being hunted down by the police in a wild car chase and they decide to drive off the edge of the Grand Canyon. This is also an inter-textual reference as the film and episode have similar endings and story plot.
Well done for identifying the inter textual reference to Thelma and Louise in The Simpsons' episode!!!! The same idea was also used in a cereal advert some years ago, thus the film became part of media popular culture.
ReplyDeleteWhat is interesting in Thelma and Louise is that when Thelma abandons her frilly dresses and high heeled shoes and bikinis she becomes more mobile, more assertive and more able to take care of herself.Thus the suggestion here is that female accessories not only attract red neck misogynists but also place women in a passive and vulnerable position! Note in the screen shot you analyse Louise is dressed in similar colours to Harlem suggesting she is prepared to assert control and not fall victim to threats and macho bravado.
Mainly bsic understanding of some generic elements of mise-en-scene.
Correction...I mean basic understanding.
ReplyDelete