Mise en Scene
Mise en scene Analysis: Days of Being Wild
After viewing the opening sequence of Days of Being Wild for the first time, several things were apparent. We have two main characters that are involved in an ongoing exchange. It begins as a simple transaction leads to our first insight into whom these characters are. Our leading man is confident. He seems to know what he wants and doesn’t appear to take no for an answer. The girl he’s after seems reserved and seems to decline his advances despite his persistence. As the scene plays out there are subtle clues left by the director as to who these people are and when the events take place.
The scene is set in the 1960’s. We know this for several reasons, not only because the man mentions the exact date but also because of the props and set design the director chose to use. From the glass Coca-Cola bottles in their chest shaped cooler to the clothing that our characters are wearing. The room is dingy with period furniture strewn about. An old style rotary phone adorns the counter as our leading man drags a stream of gray smoke behind him. In addition there seems to be a slight de-saturation and glow to the shots whether it’s due to when the film was actually shot or added in post- production. All are clues that tell us when this scene must have taken place.
The woman in this sequence, though pretending to be disinterested, is actually quite attracted to the man that comes to visit her. We notice some clues in her body language that lead us to believe that despite her hesitation she is open to his advances. What is also evident is that the confidence of the man that seems to grow with each cut-scene. Even though we can see that there is obviously a mutual attraction between the two characters, she continues to play coy. This doesn’t stop the young man from continuing his effort to win her over. This eventually seems to prove successful with the revelation at the end of the scene that two end up
After viewing the opening sequence of Days of Being Wild for the first time, several things were apparent. We have two main characters that are involved in an ongoing exchange. It begins as a simple transaction leads to our first insight into whom these characters are. Our leading man is confident. He seems to know what he wants and doesn’t appear to take no for an answer. The girl he’s after seems reserved and seems to decline his advances despite his persistence. As the scene plays out there are subtle clues left by the director as to who these people are and when the events take place.
The scene is set in the 1960’s. We know this for several reasons, not only because the man mentions the exact date but also because of the props and set design the director chose to use. From the glass Coca-Cola bottles in their chest shaped cooler to the clothing that our characters are wearing. The room is dingy with period furniture strewn about. An old style rotary phone adorns the counter as our leading man drags a stream of gray smoke behind him. In addition there seems to be a slight de-saturation and glow to the shots whether it’s due to when the film was actually shot or added in post- production. All are clues that tell us when this scene must have taken place.
The woman in this sequence, though pretending to be disinterested, is actually quite attracted to the man that comes to visit her. We notice some clues in her body language that lead us to believe that despite her hesitation she is open to his advances. What is also evident is that the confidence of the man that seems to grow with each cut-scene. Even though we can see that there is obviously a mutual attraction between the two characters, she continues to play coy. This doesn’t stop the young man from continuing his effort to win her over. This eventually seems to prove successful with the revelation at the end of the scene that two end up