VERTIGO Macro and Micro Film Language • Analysis of Key Sequences

1:26:00 to 1:38:00

Past Exam Question (Specific): The representation of women in Vertigo demonstrates how far this is a film by a man for men.’ How far do you agree?

Key Term: Identify with -  to feel that you are similar to someone and can understand them or their situation: Readers can identify with the hero of the novel.

Starter: 1.  Compare and contrast Midge versus Madeline.
Give reasons from the movie for your answers.
If it is your personal opinion, support it!

Who is the most:

intelligent?

sexy?

maternal?

objectified?

empowered?

tragic?

How does the director’s representation of the two characters influence our perception of them?

In what ways do you think the director wants us to view these two women?

Task 1: Analysis Task

Today we will focus on camera movements and editing to analyse how the director takes the viewer into Scottie’s mind. 

This should help us to realise that directors do make specific choices that affect the way the audience reacts to the film.  

You will also learn that the director wants the audience to identify with Scottie, and identify the camera methods he uses so that viewers feel what he feels and see what he sees.

• How does a director reveal a character’s motives? 
• Whose perspective have we been getting throughout the film so far, and how does this affect the viewer? 
• Why do you think that Hitchcock might want the audience to identify with Scottie? 
• How does he achieve this with the use of the camera? 

Pay attention to the specific ways the camera moves throughout each scene, and how this movement adds meaning to what is being said, or shown.

In addition, pay attention to the editing, the sequence of various images that tell the story. 

Analyse cuts between shots. 

In doing this, try to answer the following questions: 

• What are Scottie’s motives? 
• How is the audience supposed to feel about his motives/feelings?

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-Why does the director choose to edit the bell tower scene in the way that he does? For example, why do the scenes jump abruptly from Madeline to Scottie?

DOLLY ZOOM:
http://nofilmschool.com/2014/01/everything-need-know-dolly-zoom

-Why do we see two nuns running from a distance?

-How does the director convey the sense of dizziness felt by Scottie?

- Why is the nightmare montage a combination of animated/live film?

- How does the director create a surreal, disturbing atmosphere in the nightmare?

- How does the director convey the sensation of falling?

- What does Midge mean when she says, “I don’t think that Mozart’s going to help.”?

 Analyse the scene where Midge walks out of the hospital in a dark, empty corridor with the shadows closing in on her.  This is the last scene Midge appears in. What do you think happens to her?

If students have analysed that the director has specific intentions for the audience to identify with Scottie, and evaluated that the director does this by means of camera movements that mimic Scottie’s eye movements, and disorienting camera techniques that mimic Scottie’s bewilderment and anxiety, then today's lesson was beneficial.