What is
the importance of mise-en-scene and / or sound in creating meaning and
generating response in the film you have studied?
In the scene where the three characters are on top off a
rooftop in Paris, Hubert and Vintz are sitting next to each other talking, this
is mise-en-scene because those two characters have been in conflict throughout
the film and this positioning shows that they are no longer in conflict, that
they are friends one more. Said in this scene is doing nothing, he is messing
around and enjoying himself, because mise-en-scene he is the one who brings the
two friends together and tries to stop the conflict, so when these two
characters are not in conflict Said doesn’t have to do anything. Hubert, Vintz
and Said represent each of the qualities the French flag stand for, which are
Liberty, fraternity and equality and in this scene is the first time the
characters say these words. But they are saying it in the context of a mocking
way, so it shows that they don’t fully appreciate the meaning, it could go as
far to show that they also don’t appreciate each other and the roles they play
in the friendship, which would explain the constant conflict. There is no sound
added to the scene, just diegetic sounds in the scene like wind and footsteps,
this ads a sense of realism to the scene. The characters are also seen smoking
a joint, which shows that because where they come from is rough and filled with
violence and drugs even though it is still a close knit community, and they are
smoking as a way of escapism, they talk about how they want to get and that
they don’t particularly enjoy there surroundings but they are stuck there because
of poverty, so they use drugs as a form of escapism. Also in this scene it is the
first time you see the Eiffel tower, which is unusual as in most movies based
in France or Paris, there are many mentions and seeing of the iconic landmark
but this is the first time seeing it because this film is very real, there is
no fantasy of what Paris is like, this is based on real life and these
characters don’t necessarily dream of a France, they see it how it is.
My next scene is the one before this one where they are
at the train station after Vintz has spilt up from them, he then comes back to
his two other friends. In this scene there is a shot which is in a shallow
depth of field, focusing on Said and Hubert and there rest of the shot is out
of focus so when Vintz walks up it is hard to see him but when the focus
changes onto him, it shows that it has become clear to him that he needs his
friends after seeing this violence in real life. This is the last time in the
film where the boys have to reconnect after a confrontation, it is like Vintz
has learned his lesson and you can see in his facial expression that he has
changed, because his face has turned softer, he has become more sensitive in a
way. The way that Vintz walking in showed that he was already on the platform,
showing that he was waiting for his friends, he could have possibly got on the
train and got home, but instead he waited for his friends so that he could reconnect
because he learned that bad things happen when they are not together. In the next
shot it shows them walking though the train station and one of the signs on the
wall say “change” this is actually telling you that they have changed, over the
couple of hours they have spent in Paris they have learned their lesson. As
they are walking through the station there is echoes, which show how big Paris is,
that is roomier than what they are used to. You can see how big the station is
and there are the three characters in the middle, this could be mise-en-scene
of how the characters no matter where they are or how big of a split they have
they can always find each other. And once again there is no music, just the
sounds of trains and echoes, reinforcing that this film is filmed almost like a
documentary, with it being showed to be as realistic as possible because of it
being based and filmed around the time of the riots in France.
