The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain is yellow everywhere. At some point in time the color yellow was a way to describe a coward. Cowards live in fear and fear comes from not knowing what is going to happen. Although there aren't many suprises in the film, the characters seem to be colliding accidentally, moving amongst each other without the slightest clue about what will happen next. Their anxiety and fear is easily felt as they take unsure steps towards their individual climaxes. But mostly the yellow just makes Paris seem dirty and poor.
The film is described as mis-en-scene and that it is. With the actor or actors almost always being placed in the center of the frame or heading for it with everything in view in focus. Huge amounts of props clutter the scenes expressing the clutter and chaos of Amelie's world. Somehow mess places focus the main characters. Every space so small and crowded that the extra's seem to dissapear into insignificant writings on the train station wall.
With the almost witty dialouge, great naration, amazing opening and closing montages, and a main character that any man would take home to mom, somehow my favorite part is still finding out where the Travelocity Roaming Gnome got his start.
Kevin Washington
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Ha ha, this is a good entry. Whose is it? (although I know whose it is :)
ReplyDeleteYour discussion of color and character are great. You notice some important motifs in the film and interpret them accordingly. Thanks! Its interesting that you noticed the character placed in the middle of the frame. good work.
Nice use of humor as well with the gnome. I was thinking the same thing! Thanks for posting.
Stacy