Don’t Look Now (1973) Nicolas Roeg Drive (2011) Nicolas Winding

KATIE DINNAGE

Examples of Mise en Scene

Setting / Location

Country house

Wealthy

Quiet/peaceful

Far from people:help

Excluded/isolated

City at nightEstablishing shots

Typical of thriller Dark

Exuerbrates how alone he is

This establishing shot of the city at night (which is tpical of thrillers as it holds mystery – and its where most thrillers are set) emphises how alone he is, as he is just in a car driving around, and cars are shown as a tiny specks.

The setting here is a country house, home for the main characters. The house is quiet and isolated, far away from other people. The large house also implies that the couple are wealthy.

Props

Tooth pick

Doesn’t care

Hard/dangerous

Cool

Tooth picks are used by those who don’t care about what other people think about them. For this man, it’s excatly the same: making him seem threatening. Chewing it also links to him broodiness.

BallDoll

Toys

Characterisation

Innocence

YoungHave to guess his state of mind as his face gives no clues

The toys that the girl carries are typical of a young child, that brings attention to her age and innocence.

Costume & Makeup

Gang member

Scorpian-dangerousDriving jacket

Metallic-tough/hard

At first glance it looks like the jackets stunt drivers wear (and he is one) but looking more into it, it looks like a jacket given to gang members. This gives him a dangerous and tough look – the scopion and metallic material add to this.

Red

Blonde hairShiny

Innocence

Focus on her

Girl

Young

Dead

Colour of blood

The colour of this girls coat is red (colour of blood which could be foreshadowing her death), this brings the audiences focus to her as she is the only brightly clothed person in this scene, highlighting her significance in the storyline.

Figure Expression

Serious

Same expression throughout opening sequence

From his facial expression we can tell that he has something on his mind and is mulling something over. It looks like a mask, where behind it much is going on. All this sparks the curiosity in the audience, so they want to know why he is so moody.

Loner

Something to hide?

Mulling over something

Sudden realisation

Horror

Wide eyes

Open mouth

Preoccupied

This is the moment when he suddenly realises that his daughter is in danger. His eyes are wide and his face has dropped in horror. From this fast reaction the audience are shocked along with him and wonder why he is so frightened – which we find out later.

Lighting / Colour

Without seeing the film, I would assume that this character has a split personality or is troubled. I have come to this conclusion as he is lit with white light on one side, but his shadow on the other, is bathed in a dark blue light.

Dark

Light

Surrounding darkness

Eerie

Blue

White

Dark

Eerie

The reflection in the water of the girl could be forshadowing her drowning later in the scene. The colours around her are dark and dull, and her bright coat is the focus of the picture.

Bright coat