Hugo Cabret Essay
Film Analysis Draft
The film ‘Hugo’, directed by Martin Scorsese was released in 2011. It encapsulates the story of Hugo Cabret: an orphan boy who lives in a 1930s train station in Paris. His job was to oil and maintain the clocks in the station, however, he considers protecting the notebook and fixing the broken automaton that his late father had left him much more important. One particular day, Hugo meets Isabelle and quickly befriends her. Soon after, they embark on a thrilling adventure, in which Hugo is determined to solve the mystery of the broken automaton and find a place he could call home. This movie aptly explores the theme of dreams and invites audiences to accept that an ordinary person can overcome any obstacle in their way to …show more content…
Evidence of this can be found in the scene when Hugo attempts to steal a mechanical mouse to fix his automaton, however, loses possession of his notebook. At one point in the scene, bright three point lighting highlights the features and the expression on Hugo’s face. The brightness has connotations of hope, positivity, and optimism. These connotations position the audience to feel hopeful and inspired to achieve their own aspirations. Furthermore, Hugo’s expression in this scene, a strained expression with enlarged eyes and an upturned mouth, displays determination and drive to retrieve his notebook. Connotations of Hugo’s expression additionally include desperation and aggression. This demonstrates that Hugo is extremely determined and fixated on achieving his dream to fix the automaton. Together with the lighting, Hugo’s expression plants the idea in the audience’s mind that because Hugo was so driven to achieve his dream, the audience should also be determined to achieve theirs. Scorsese’s decision to use these specific elements in mise-en-scene is somewhat effective. Even though the cinematography in this scene draws attention away from Hugo’s facial expression and uses three point lighting in place of high key lighting, the audience is still able to accept the invited reading. Equally important in conveying the invited reading to the audience is the director’s choices in
The film ‘Hugo’, directed by Martin Scorsese was released in 2011. It encapsulates the story of Hugo Cabret: an orphan boy who lives in a 1930s train station in Paris. His job was to oil and maintain the clocks in the station, however, he considers protecting the notebook and fixing the broken automaton that his late father had left him much more important. One particular day, Hugo meets Isabelle and quickly befriends her. Soon after, they embark on a thrilling adventure, in which Hugo is determined to solve the mystery of the broken automaton and find a place he could call home. This movie aptly explores the theme of dreams and invites audiences to accept that an ordinary person can overcome any obstacle in their way to …show more content…
Evidence of this can be found in the scene when Hugo attempts to steal a mechanical mouse to fix his automaton, however, loses possession of his notebook. At one point in the scene, bright three point lighting highlights the features and the expression on Hugo’s face. The brightness has connotations of hope, positivity, and optimism. These connotations position the audience to feel hopeful and inspired to achieve their own aspirations. Furthermore, Hugo’s expression in this scene, a strained expression with enlarged eyes and an upturned mouth, displays determination and drive to retrieve his notebook. Connotations of Hugo’s expression additionally include desperation and aggression. This demonstrates that Hugo is extremely determined and fixated on achieving his dream to fix the automaton. Together with the lighting, Hugo’s expression plants the idea in the audience’s mind that because Hugo was so driven to achieve his dream, the audience should also be determined to achieve theirs. Scorsese’s decision to use these specific elements in mise-en-scene is somewhat effective. Even though the cinematography in this scene draws attention away from Hugo’s facial expression and uses three point lighting in place of high key lighting, the audience is still able to accept the invited reading. Equally important in conveying the invited reading to the audience is the director’s choices in