Friday, 11 August

 

Practice scene analysis: General Ne Win’s suspicions and control

1) Scene 1: First impressions of General Ne Win:

What is he doing when he is first introduced?

What do you hear? (verbal techniques)

What do you see? (visual techniques)

  • Finding out information about Sui.
  • Will guarded-government building. Set design visually showing his power and importance, other scenes with other Burma citizens are in shabbier areas.
  • Costume: Green military uniform, badges show power and high rank, wealth. He is a general shown by the medals, stars and colours he has got. Colour symbolism of the Green uniform or military green, shows the importance and dictatorship of the country.
  • Costume: Other guy wears a plain white everyday shirt as he is undercover and it makes him look like anyone else. He is not seen as important and of power to the citizens of Burma as he is wearing what everyone else is and is an undercover civilian.
  • close-up of faces
  • A medium shot as he walks out.
  • Shady behaviour, he is nervous and little to no eye-contact to who is he is speaking. (body language)
  • touches his face a lot as if he doesn’t know what to do, lack of authority as he isn’t confident and showing authority in his actions and body language.
  • Costume: The red scarf is a symbol of communism and the military power that was before. “I’m wearing the red scarf so I have the power to kill.”
  • Similar colours as other communist countries.
  • Minimalistic, uninformed, wealthy and prestige.
  • dialogue, diegetic sound
  • Has authority, the body language of the other people are subservient. (prepared to serve others unquestionably.)
  • whispers, he is secretive- reflecting whether his leadership is trustworthy.
  • Dialogue is very vague, showing that they are not certain and are very unsure.
  • Very brief statements, as they are doing something shifty so they are being careful with their words.
  • Needing to be in control and is feeling threatened so is asking who she has been with and where she has been. Trying to keep control over everybody’s action and words.
  • No names are given they never mention Sui by name, as they are being shifty and vague. By saying her name they would be giving her power and ownership over their actions so in the film he never gives her power or ownership over their conversations.
  • 1962-1998 when he resigned but remained a power until he was forced out in 2002.
  • Directly contrasted to the man who he is talking to who is dressed as a civilian. (secret service in Burma walking around watching people, similar to the North Korean Imniban. similar to other dictatorships in the world.)

 

2) Scene 2: Visiting a tarot card reader

What is General Ne Win doing in this scene?

Consider how any of the details you have listed reflect Luc Besson’s auteur style. List the connections.

Describe the environment Ne Win is in? (Consider Luc Besson’s auteur style)

What do you see? (visual techniques)

What is the tarot card reader like? What is she doing?

What do you hear? (verbal techniques)

  • Going to see the tarot card reader, showing how he is superstitious.
  • Dirty streets, poor area, unclean. Total contrast to the government buildings where he was first seen/introduced and where he is in most of the time.
  • He is in a seedy, secretive back part of town, showing he doesn’t want people to know where he is going and his beliefs.
  • She has the power and control over him.
  • Body language is weak, he has respect for her and doesn’t have his normal sense of power and authority, he relies on her and needs her. He doesn’t have control.
  • Dirty rundown set, military costumes showing power, close up and mid shots, extreme close up of a lion, mainly close shots, dark lighting, she has confident body language she knows he needs her and she is in charge, he is nervous. Blue background behind her showing or symbolising knowledge or wisdom, symbolising the democracy that is coming. and he has green and red behind him symbolism military and communism.
  • Huge use of close-ups and a few medium shots. The medium shot used for conversations and to show the conversation, to show the body language as well as conversation and facial expression. Showing him as nervous and not her given her power. He is subservient to her meaning at this point the fate of the country is in her hands, not his. The director is showing the leadership is coming from supernatural and superstition showing how Burma in 1988 was going bad.
  • Close up shows what is happening. Close up of his taking his shoes off by command of the tarot card reader showing once again her power.
  • The close up of the lion representing and symbolising London where Aung San Suu Kyi has come from and the threat that she brings to him and his regime. Significant as she is the Spirit who will help the ghost.  Foreshadowing that if the country is at peace she will return to where she has come from which is England/Britain represented by the lion. Represents the strength of Aung San Suu Kyi who holds the strength of the lion and has the power to make a change.
  • Close up of face tattoos, create a mystery about her and her ancestry, her beliefs have been passed down. Creates the sense she is a spiritual lady and is significant of her beliefs. Tattooed onto her core. Simplistic costuming-shows that she is of a lower class yet she still has the power over him.
  • Close up of the money connecting Aung San Suu Kyi to the father.
  • screeching, disturbing sounds showing the rough place he is.
  • Tribal, mystical music showing the superstitious of what he is doing.
  • Airy sounds fade in and out as they speak.
  • Deep important tones when he puts the money down and when the lion is turned over and shown.
  •  Huge contrasts between them he is in full military uniform while she is dirty and mystical
  • Money note is symbolic of the General who wanted to make Burma a democracy, General Win believes it his spirit who is fighting against him but in fact, he is told it is an ancestor… his daughter.

Cinema du look:

Lighting: in the building is minimal: mystery, uncertainty, hidden acts take place there. BLUE LIGHTING behind the women creates an illuminating almost supernatural effect around her. The red light behind the General reflects his communist beliefs (sacrifice/blood of the people)

Costume: General Ne Win’s military decorations are a direct contrast to the tattooed markings, wrinkled skin, dirty nails….

Setting: Shows rarot cards on a small table. The women and general Ne Win faces the cards for her wisdom/direction.

Props: General Ne Win places a Burmese note on the table…..

 

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