- The cinematic tools used in this film help the audience to understand the character of Nathan Algren and be fully present during his transformation from American Captain to Samurai
- Colour schemes and lighting help to define his relationships with the people around him and create or release tension
- Lens techniques such as compression help to construct him as the ultimate hero
- Used throughout film during battle scenes to create tension and make the enemy seem larger and more solid
- Used to make the war seem more impossible for our heros
The Purkinje Effect To Represent Time Shift
Purkinje Effect To Represent Time Shift
THE LAST SAMURAI
DIRECTED BY: EDWARD ZWICK
- The purkinje effect is used every time Algren has a flashback to his fight against the natives.
- The overtly blue tint with the high contrast of shadows makes the flashbacks easily identifiable to the audience
Silhouette to Signify Change
- The emperor is introduced in silhouette. He represents the changing state of Japan. The visual mystery of his face stands supports the mystery of his mind as the audience is left wondering about his decisions throughout the film.
Silhouette to Signify Change
- Framing of architecture leads eye to Katsumoto
- Katsumoto is wearing blue in a brown palette of colours. This contrast makes him stand out as important.
Background
USE OF COLOUR
LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
- Colour scheme in various scenes sets the mood and helps to foreshadow things to come
- Overall, the film is constantly shifting between cool colour scenes and warm ones that support the changing emotion and drama in each shot
- Classified as an action/drama
- An american military advisor (Tom Cruise) embraces the Samurai culture that he was supposed to destroy after being caught in a battle
- Story of transformation and appreciation for culture
- Specific shadows to signify shame of Nathan Algren's past in contrast to the soft, full lighting of the people around him
- As Algren practices his fighting, he is placed in silouette because he is transforming and his identity is unclear.
- The orange background contrasts as an opposite against the movie's blue colour scheme, which reitterates the change in Nathan's character
- Framing based on colour contrast
- Distance
- Mountains create frame for characters
Lighting to Signify Transformation
- As Nathan transforms into a samurai, his face becomes fully lit without shadows for the majority of the last quarter of the movie
FRAMING
- Effective use of vast landscapes to frame characters within the scene
- Frequent use of internal framing to surround specific characters of importance in any given shot
- When Algren is introduced, there is red and blue in the background of almost every shot that he is in.
- This ensures that the audience understands that Algren identifys as an American
- Taka takes her place at the table, and her face remains entirely lit up, regardless of the shadows in the room.
- Nathan at dinner after his capture. His face is halfway in darkness