Belonging Essay
Belonging- Essay 2
“How does Luhrmann use filmic techniques to explore the concept of Belonging?”
The use of cinematic techniques is essential in a film to explore the main idea or concept within. In the film ‘Strictly Ballroom’, Luhrmann uses a wide range of filmic techniques to explore the concept of belonging. This essay will discuss the techniques used in the ‘Pasodoble’ scene and how the use of close-up, long shot and diegetic sound explores the idea of belonging.
The use of a close-up shot during the Pasodoble scene in Strictly Ballroom explores the idea of belonging to relationships and communities. This shot focuses on Scott and Rico’s feet while they are dancing. This highlights Scott growing belonging and connection to Fran and her family. YaYa teaches Scott to dance the Pasodoble in a natural way and the intercutting of Scott and Rico’s feet dancing in sync reinforces the strong bond that is forming. This close-up proves that the use of these filmic techniques helps pursue the idea of belonging in a film.
Long shot is another technique that Luhrmann uses during Strictly Ballroom to explore the core idea of belonging. The shot focuses on Scott dancing the Pasodoble after YaYa taught him to dance it ‘properly’, as the train passes behind him and the rest of the party. Once Scott was taught to dance it properly, everyone was cheering, clapping and embracing him. This highlights Scott’s growing acceptance within Fran’s family and also Fran herself. Scott feels a sense of belonging within the family now especially with Rico and YaYa as they embrace him. This technique is another great example of how filmic techniques are used to explore the concepts of belonging in Strictly Ballroom.
Lastly, diegetic sound is a technique used within the film to explore the ideas of belonging. In the Pasodoble scene when YaYa begins to beat Scott’s chest in correspondence with the rhythm of the music. This sound of hands beating eventually transitions into the beat of the
“How does Luhrmann use filmic techniques to explore the concept of Belonging?”
The use of cinematic techniques is essential in a film to explore the main idea or concept within. In the film ‘Strictly Ballroom’, Luhrmann uses a wide range of filmic techniques to explore the concept of belonging. This essay will discuss the techniques used in the ‘Pasodoble’ scene and how the use of close-up, long shot and diegetic sound explores the idea of belonging.
The use of a close-up shot during the Pasodoble scene in Strictly Ballroom explores the idea of belonging to relationships and communities. This shot focuses on Scott and Rico’s feet while they are dancing. This highlights Scott growing belonging and connection to Fran and her family. YaYa teaches Scott to dance the Pasodoble in a natural way and the intercutting of Scott and Rico’s feet dancing in sync reinforces the strong bond that is forming. This close-up proves that the use of these filmic techniques helps pursue the idea of belonging in a film.
Long shot is another technique that Luhrmann uses during Strictly Ballroom to explore the core idea of belonging. The shot focuses on Scott dancing the Pasodoble after YaYa taught him to dance it ‘properly’, as the train passes behind him and the rest of the party. Once Scott was taught to dance it properly, everyone was cheering, clapping and embracing him. This highlights Scott’s growing acceptance within Fran’s family and also Fran herself. Scott feels a sense of belonging within the family now especially with Rico and YaYa as they embrace him. This technique is another great example of how filmic techniques are used to explore the concepts of belonging in Strictly Ballroom.
Lastly, diegetic sound is a technique used within the film to explore the ideas of belonging. In the Pasodoble scene when YaYa begins to beat Scott’s chest in correspondence with the rhythm of the music. This sound of hands beating eventually transitions into the beat of the