Scene Deconstruction

One of the themes of this movie, and this scene in particular, is that people cannot live their lives to the fullest until they accept that they are going to die someday. This scene is especially important in the portrayal of this theme because it is when one of the characters finally accepts the lesson. In this scene, the theme is told in a very didactic way. One of the main characters is literally explaining it to another one, which is about as didactic as a theme can get without it being explicitly stated to the audience by a narrator.

                

         One of the elements this scene utilizes well is line. As soon as one character grabs the other character’s hand, a very important line has been created. This line shows who is in power. When their hands touch, Brad Pitt is sitting and the line tilts up toward Edward Norton. As soon as the hand starts to burn, however, Edward Norton drops and suddenly the line shows that Brad Pitt in control, because he is higher up. The line between the characters creates a subtext of power. Although this particular scene is told in a very didactic manner, there is still a lot of subtext going on in this scene as well as the whole movie. The subtext is easy to create due to the unreliable narrator. Additionally, the diagonal lines of Brad Pitt’s collar shows that he is a forceful, driven character. As Norton tries to resist him, there are quick cuts to some vertical trees, exemplifying his stubbornness when it comes to change.

             Another one of the elements that this scene relies heavily on is movement. The movement between the two characters exemplifies the tension of the scene. There are a lot of small, quick movements going on as one character is trying to hold another one still. Once the movements come down to a minimum, Brad Pitt’s character gives the other character the vinegar, and Edward Norton’s character falls down to show that tension has been released. The movement helps with the theme because one character is trying to get the other to accept the fact that he will die, but the other character is resisting, just like the way they are moving. Their conflict of interest is also exemplified by the movement of point of interest, which changes every time the camera switches between characters. There is very limited camera movement in this scene except for one particular shot that tilts down from Edward Norton’s face to his burning hand. It is no coincidence that the only movement the camera makes in this scene occurs at the same time that the character accepts his face. This camera movement symbolizes the shift in Edward Norton’s character.