Film Essay
Analyse how visual techniques are used to develop deeper ideas in a visual text you have studied
In the film Samson & Delilah directed by Warwick Thornton, visual techniques are used to develop deeper ideas. The visual techniques used are props, cinematography and make up to develop the director’s vision which is to confront audiences and Australian audiences in particular of the harsh realities of life for young Aborigines. From the director’s vision, deeper ideas are developed. The deeper ideas developed are substance abuse and addiction, dislocation from Aborigine culture and violence and abuse shown towards young Aboriginals. All of these deeper ideas show how tough life is in Australia and in particular Alice Springs showing how much a struggle it is to survive from day to day.
Thornton uses props to develop the deeper idea of substance abuse and addiction among Aborigine teenagers. The prop used to symbolise substance abuse and addiction is the petrol can/bottle which is associated with Samson. Samson more often than not is holding a petrol can through out the whole film, either hidden in his jacket or held up to his face inhaling the toxic fumes. An example of Samson’s addiction is in the opening scene. Samson wakes up in his bed and the first thing he does before anything else is inhale the toxic petrol fumes. This scene shows how addicted and how heavily Samson relies on getting high throughout the day. By making the protagonist of the film a young petrol-sniffing Aborigine, Thornton is able to get across his vision by shocking audiences to show them the truth about Australia and Alice Springs.
Thornton uses cinematography to develop the deeper idea of young people’s dislocation from their culture. Thornton does this by the use off a long shot. An example of this exclusion from their culture is with the use of a high angled long shot of Samson. Samson is hunched in the foreground holding his can of petrol and is looking down on the village in the background which he was just exiled from. He is now an outcast from his village and therefore his culture after hitting both people and possessions with a solid stick used as a weapon. His own brother was one of the victims of his rampage which is the reason why he would not be allowed back into his village. The shot symbolises what it is like for Aborigines all over Australia feeling distant and alienated from their culture. There is another long shot following the first. It is of Samson just after he has been looking down on his village. He then walks away from the village and the audience symbolising him turning his back on his culture.
Hair and Make up is used by Thornton to get across the deeper idea of violence and sexual abuse shown towards young Aborigines. It is used by showing the physical abuse shown towards Aborigines. An example of Hair and Make up is when Delilah returns under the bridge after being abducted by white Australians after being beaten and we presume raped. Thos shows the racial intolerance shown by white Australians. An establishing shot is used showing only Delilah’s silhouette moving across the fire when she returns after being abducted. This is used to shock the audience because we are unable to see the extent of her injuries until a mid-close up is used on her face. It is bashed and bruised so badly her left eye is swollen shut. Blood is splattered all over her teeth and mouth. Shadowing, blusher and eye liner are used to create of the bruising. This is because it gives the effect of her face being black-purple because of the bruising. Latex and tissue are used effectively to give a realistic looking swollen eye. This use of make-up reinforces the deeper idea of violence and sexual abuse shown towards young Aborigines.
In the film Samson and Delilah directed by Warwick Thornton techniques are used to develop the deeper ideas. The visual techniques used are props, cinematography and make up. These are used to develop the deeper ideas of substance abuse and addiction, young aborigines dislocation from their culture and also violence and sexual abuse shown towards young Aborigines.
In the film Samson & Delilah directed by Warwick Thornton, visual techniques are used to develop deeper ideas. The visual techniques used are props, cinematography and make up to develop the director’s vision which is to confront audiences and Australian audiences in particular of the harsh realities of life for young Aborigines. From the director’s vision, deeper ideas are developed. The deeper ideas developed are substance abuse and addiction, dislocation from Aborigine culture and violence and abuse shown towards young Aboriginals. All of these deeper ideas show how tough life is in Australia and in particular Alice Springs showing how much a struggle it is to survive from day to day.
Thornton uses props to develop the deeper idea of substance abuse and addiction among Aborigine teenagers. The prop used to symbolise substance abuse and addiction is the petrol can/bottle which is associated with Samson. Samson more often than not is holding a petrol can through out the whole film, either hidden in his jacket or held up to his face inhaling the toxic fumes. An example of Samson’s addiction is in the opening scene. Samson wakes up in his bed and the first thing he does before anything else is inhale the toxic petrol fumes. This scene shows how addicted and how heavily Samson relies on getting high throughout the day. By making the protagonist of the film a young petrol-sniffing Aborigine, Thornton is able to get across his vision by shocking audiences to show them the truth about Australia and Alice Springs.
Thornton uses cinematography to develop the deeper idea of young people’s dislocation from their culture. Thornton does this by the use off a long shot. An example of this exclusion from their culture is with the use of a high angled long shot of Samson. Samson is hunched in the foreground holding his can of petrol and is looking down on the village in the background which he was just exiled from. He is now an outcast from his village and therefore his culture after hitting both people and possessions with a solid stick used as a weapon. His own brother was one of the victims of his rampage which is the reason why he would not be allowed back into his village. The shot symbolises what it is like for Aborigines all over Australia feeling distant and alienated from their culture. There is another long shot following the first. It is of Samson just after he has been looking down on his village. He then walks away from the village and the audience symbolising him turning his back on his culture.
Hair and Make up is used by Thornton to get across the deeper idea of violence and sexual abuse shown towards young Aborigines. It is used by showing the physical abuse shown towards Aborigines. An example of Hair and Make up is when Delilah returns under the bridge after being abducted by white Australians after being beaten and we presume raped. Thos shows the racial intolerance shown by white Australians. An establishing shot is used showing only Delilah’s silhouette moving across the fire when she returns after being abducted. This is used to shock the audience because we are unable to see the extent of her injuries until a mid-close up is used on her face. It is bashed and bruised so badly her left eye is swollen shut. Blood is splattered all over her teeth and mouth. Shadowing, blusher and eye liner are used to create of the bruising. This is because it gives the effect of her face being black-purple because of the bruising. Latex and tissue are used effectively to give a realistic looking swollen eye. This use of make-up reinforces the deeper idea of violence and sexual abuse shown towards young Aborigines.
In the film Samson and Delilah directed by Warwick Thornton techniques are used to develop the deeper ideas. The visual techniques used are props, cinematography and make up. These are used to develop the deeper ideas of substance abuse and addiction, young aborigines dislocation from their culture and also violence and sexual abuse shown towards young Aborigines.
