This shot is a mid-shot showing the 3 gangsters in the background, who have just killed Eve, of whom there is a close-up in the foreground. It is very much an establishing shot, showing that the film is a thriller.
There are lots of different aspects of the mise-en-scene of this shot which establish the film itself as a thriller. For example, One of the men is holding a gun having just used it to murder Eve - guns are heavily associated with thrillers, and are renowned signifiers of the genre. The fact that Eve has just been murdered also establishes it as part of the thriller genre - there has now definitely already been a murder this early on into the film, and murders are heavily linked to the genre. Other signifiers within this shot include the dress style of the 3 gangsters, which implies the thriller genre - trilby hats and long overcoats frequently worn by thriller characters.
Eve's face is out of focus, whereas the 3 men are in focus. Possibly implying that eve is now of less importance and fading out of the story, whereas the 3 men are taking up far more significant roles.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
A strong final point; yes the focus on the 3 bent cops indicates their significance in the plot. Note how the Tiffany lamp and Eve's costume are shot in a golden glow, it's as if the lamp is part of her.
ReplyDeleteA promising analysis of aspects of mise-en-scene here.