OVERALL LOOK
The
cinematographic aspects of the film – the qualities of the film stock,
lightning, lenses, framing, angles, camera movement, and use of long takes add
up to overall look. We can see that these factors are of good qualities and
they all associate with each other very well. In some shots of the film, they
are all present at the same time. For example, at the beginning of the film,
light flutters, color flickers, low-angle shot (the camera is below the people
looking at it), camera movement (camera shifts constantly from the doctor to
the nurse); the framing demonstrates the limit a person is able to see with an
eye. Overall, the director creates the narrative by putting the audience in the
same position as the main character who suffers from the frustrating effects of
a stroke. It gives such a strange and personal experience that attracts the
audience from the beginning of the film.
IMAGES
The
image of Bauby being trapped in the diving bell in the deep sea conveys
the meaning that Bauby is being prisoned in his own body and there is no way
out. No matter how loud he may shout, he can not be heard. In Bauby’s situation,
he can not talk and thus has difficulty in communicating with people around
him.
The
image of Bauby sitting along in front of the sea or sitting on the field implies
that Bauby is having a great feeling of loneliness.
The
image of the rock mountain falling down implies that the stroke turns Bauby to
another page of his life, a horrible period of time. Everything seems to
collapse on him.
The
constant image of boundless nature such as the sea, the mountain, the field, etc.
conveys that the more Bauby feels trapped in his own body, the smaller he
thinks of himself as an isolated human existing in this enormous and limitless nature.
The
image of the hospital hall implies that Bauby is living in a very boring place
in which the same routine is repeated day in and day out.
The
image of the diving bell and the butterfly implies that the butterfly can feel
free to be anywhere or do anything while being diving bell is like being in
prison. These two contradictory images convey how much Bauby wants to be set
free from the diving bell and have the freedom like a butterfly.
The
X-ray tells us that there is something wrong with the shape of somebody, even
though we have not seen the character yet. As soon as we see him paralyzed and
unable to talk, we recognize the theme of the movie and the method of
narrating.
SHOT LENGTHS
There
is a recognizable pattern in the length of shots. Most of the time, close-up
shots are used. The reason is that in this film, the director aims to put the
audience in the main character’s position. A lot of times during the film, along
with the fact that the audience observes things through the eye of Bauby, there
are some rapid events and emotional states attached, so close-up shots are appropriate
the most. Besides, long takes are used also, mostly on the image of vast nature
and his interaction with his nurses and family.
A close-up shot
A long take
SHOT TYPES
In
the film, shots such as extreme close-up shots or extreme long shots are used.
The extreme close-up shots (ECUs) are usually the shots in which the nurse or
the doctor talks to Bauby, especially the shot at the very beginning of the
film when Bauby opens his eye for the first time after the stroke. In these
moments, these shots demonstrate the close facial features that can be seen by
Bauby. Also, these ECUs make the audience feel extra uncomfortable being in
Bauby’s position and thus, the audience can empathize. Most of these shots do
not follow the rule of third but use composition stress instead emphasizes the
loneliness Bauby feels. Regarding the extreme long shots (ELSs), they are used
for the image of the ocean or ranges of mountains. These ELSs emphasizes the
environment or the background the character is against. In this film, it is the
enormous nature, the length of time and the great isolation that Bauby faces
with.
ECUs
ELSs
CAMERA ANGLES
There
are many low-angle shots in the film. Especially, there are ones that represent
the point of view of Bauby, or represent the others’ point of view of Bauby. These
low shots also convey Bauby’s feeling towards the others and vice versa. By
showing how an observer sees something, it can also convey about the
character’s state of mind, or what he is thinking and feeling.
The
following example represents Bauby’s point of view as he looks
at his nurse. This low-angle shot represents how Bauby observes the nurse’s
smile. It also conveys Bauby’s adoration for such a beautiful woman.
There
are also other low-angle shots but does not represent point of view. For
instance, the low-angle shot that captures moments when Bauby is driving his
car. This low-angle shot places the observer in a position of inferiority,
which enhances the image of Bauby as someone successful, healthy and full of
energy in his happy life in the past.
COMPOSITION
Regarding
the composition of shots within the scene, it can be seen that the elements
within the frame arranged in a less “painterly” composition. Most of the time,
what an eye is capable of watching, especially it is the eye of a patient lying
or sitting still, does not conform to the rule of thirds. It contributes to
making the audience think they are really seeing Bauby’s world through his eye,
which is such a realistic feeling. Moreover, composition stress is used when he
faces the frustrating effects of the stroke. Meanwhile, when remembering his
happy life or imagining, high-angle shots are used. Therefore, the composition
also contributes to creating the two streams of emotions in Bauby.
CAMERA MOVEMENT
Most
of the time, the camera movement is rapid which creates the feeling of anxiety.
When Bauby is in awkward situation, the camera movement is increased. For
example, when Bauby wakes up for the first time after the stroke, we can see
that there is constant camera movement for Bauby is feeling dizzy, odd and not
knowing what is happening to him.
However, when it comes to emotional
situation, there is not much camera movement. For example, when Bauby meets his
ex-wife and he cries, we can hardly see any camera movement.
CINEMATOGRAPHY STYLE
In
this film, the cinematography calls attention to itself and it is intentional. Cinematography
including shots, camera angles, camera movement, etc. contributes to the method
of telling the story of Bauby and the emotional state that main character is
going through. Overall, cinematography in this film creates the strongest
attention for the film.
