Se7en is a 1995 psychological crime thriller film directed
by David Fincher, staring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey. Pitt and
Freeman star as two detectives investigating to a number of murders all linked
to the 7 deadly sins, in an attempt to try and find the murderer played by
Spacey. Mise-en-Scene is a number of
different techniques used by the director and producers to portray certain
emotions and ideas towards the audience. Se7en used these fantastically to
portray fear and suspense in the audience and to portray the thriller element
in this film. The scene i will be focusing on is the end scene where detectives
David and William (Pitt and Freeman) are escorting John Doe (spacey) to an
unknown location where they are supposedly going to be shown where the two
remaining bodies will be found. A different scenario occurs which leads to
Johns demise.
One element of Mise-en-Scene is setting. The setting in this
scene is a desolate wasteland outside of the unnamed city which William, David
and John and travelling through in a cop car with the two detectives in the
front of the car and John in the back. They are separated by a barrier which is
not only placed there to protect the two detectives from John but also
symbolizes the barrier between john and the rest of the world because of his
delusions and obvious insanity. The setting of the desolate waste land also
symbolizes John difference and separation to the rest of the world due to his
radical ideas and actions. This setting also symbolises the dangerous situation
the two detectives are getting themselves into as there are no people around
the witness the destruction John is going to cause.
The lighting in this scene is very bright, which is unusual
for a thriller film. The film makers could have used this to represent John’s
blatant insanity and to show him now showing him true self to the two
detectives. This bright lightening could also have been used to symbolise the
obvious danger the two detectives are putting themselves into by driving out to
this abandoned waste land with John and allowing him to control what they do.
This bright lighting could also represent the clear and obvious control John
has over the detectives and how he is able to manipulate both their actions and
emotions so easily.
Another very important element of Mise-en-scene is
performance and movement. In this scene the two detectives are obviously still
overwhelmed and disgusted by John’s actions, William remains calm and silent,
whereas David blatantly show his disgust
and dislike towards John. David turns his body towards John to try and show
dominance however he ends up siting side on to John, this once again shows the
power John has over the detectives and how they are fearful of him. Pitt uses
some small hand gestures when talking to Spacey’s character, this is used to
show assertiveness and dominance. Spacey’s
lack of movement shows his characters calmness and utter control over the situation.
By not making violent movements or even raising his voice he shows that he
knows his plan is working and it convinces the audience of his blatant insanity,
as he is in a very bad situation (under arrested) and yet is still calm and
knows he has control of the situation.
Costume and makeup plays a very important role in this film.
The two detectives characters start out in the film as well dressed and frankly
hygienic men. By this end scene however, it is obvious by the state of their
clothes and general appears, that John’s actions have had a great impact on all
of their life. This is shown in Pitt’s character especially, for example his
suit is now dirty and wrinkled and his shirt is untucked. This show his loss of
control over his own life and shows the audience that he make be coming close
to a point of breakdown. The physical wounds his character has is a physical
representation of the affect john has had on him mentally. His broken arm could
symbolise to the audience how close David is coming to breaking, which
eventually does happen and he ends up shooting John, which was part of Johns
plan from the start. Spacey’s character
is dressed in the classic American bright orange prison outfit and handcuffs. These
handcuffs symbolise that even though his plan is working, his is actually in prison
and is still going to have to pay in some form for the crimes he has committed.
His character however has no visible injuries, unlike the detectives, this
symbolises to the audience the control john has had over the situation and the
pain he has caused other people and without causing any damage to himself.
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