Visual Analysis of the Long Day Closes
A film’s purpose is to entertain. This is usually achieved through a well-developed plot and compelling narrative. Other aspects such as editing, music score and unusual cinematography add to the film’s overall entertainment value. Some films venture beyond these traditional frameworks and use unique sound, editing, cinematography, and sound effects to convey their message. Even though they don’t have a plot, these films succeed in captivating viewers and making them feel connected to their past experiences. These movies are universal and personal, because everyone can identify with them. This movie is an example. It manages to communicate a character’s emotions through the use of certain elements in mise-en-scene and cinematography. Editing and sound are also used.
This scene is a strong example of mise-enscene. It emphasizes Bud’s uniformity and order wherever he goes. It’s a simple screen with rows of people that transition from scene to scene. This shows how boring and monotonous life can sometimes be, even though it’s full of different activities and people. This is why the muted colors and natural light are important. It can sometimes be depressing to see people wearing the same clothes and look alike in every situation. The mise-en scene shows people performing the same actions: smoking, kneeling, standing, marching out and then lighting a cigarette. You stand out if you’re not like everyone else. This scene is a mise-enscene. It helps the audience experience the same emotions as Bud. Specific cinematography can also be used to convey Bud’s emotions. This scene features both people and backgrounds in overhead shots. Bud’s feelings of being detached from the world can be felt by the audience, who can also identify with his desire for escape through “the pictures”. The depth of focus and tracking camera enhance this feeling. This makes it almost impossible to relate to Bud’s desire to escape the “real world” and create meaningful relationships with people. Bud appears to be detached from the camera, floating from one shot to the next. This could indicate that Bud perceives his world as continuous and repetitive. Bud experiences a sense of detachment due to its monotony. Therefore, long, full shots are used, along with overhead and tracking camera movements.
Similar messages are being sent by the editing of the “Tammy’s In Love” scene. The dissolves are used to blur the images together, allowing the last shot to linger and a new one to be overlaid on top. It creates the feeling that everything is just a repetition or something we have experienced. It all comes together making every setting feel the same. This is reinforced by the other visual techniques that were used in this scene. Overall, it feels like Bud’s experiences and moments are merging into one scene. Until something interesting or funny breaks Bud out of his monotony.
Finally, the film’s sound design is masterfully used by Bud to communicate his emotions.
This particular scene shows his anxiety about school or church. This can be felt due to the use sound clips from other movies that were made during this period. One example is the church shot where a man can be heard saying, “And in the pulpit, talking endless nonsense, Reverend Henry D’Ascoyne.” The D’Ascoynes are certainly in keeping with tradition and sent the fool of his family to the church. This could suggest that Bud isn’t as confident in the church as he once was and doesn’t believe it’s nonsense. Similar to the classroom scene, Bud is frustrated by his teacher’s strict rules and voiceovers calling him “a shower” and a “absolute rotter”.
The characters’ voices make the shots seem more real-life and the non-diegetic sounds almost feel like commentary. The familiar and calming song “Tammy”, connects the shots and reminds the viewer that Bud’s mom loves to sing. It makes sense that music is a constant companion for Bud wherever he goes. You can say that music and voiceovers help Bud express his anxiety about being different.
Let’s conclude by saying that cinematography, editing and sound are all crucial elements in this movie. They convey the emotion and struggles of the main character. The editing and mise-en-scene express the monotony Bud feels, while the cinematography shows how he seeks to escape it through movies. The sounds also connect to Bud’s inner world, revealing his anxiety about not fitting in with the traditional Liverpool society. The Long Day Closes, a wonderful film that explores the difficulties of growing up in an entirely new and deeply personal way. It employs traditional movie-making techniques very well and captures the attention of the audience without any plot.
