Michael K. – Cleopatra Scene Analysis

 The scene I chose from the movie "Cleopatra" is the opening scene of Julius Caesar overseeing the land after the battle with Pompei. 

In the scene we can see Julius Caesar looking into the distance. The first thing we can notice in the scene is the camera shot and lighting. The camera shot is a middle shot that shows Julius from the belly up, this shot helps us get a close (but not too close) look up at an important character in the movie. The shot also lets us examine Caesar's "stoic" and "wise" looking expression on his face and lets us interpret him as an important character that shows these wise/general/strategist like characteristics. The lighting also helps us emphasize his significance as it is shining down onto him, as if coming from the audience. The lighting also illuminates his Roman armor giving it an illusion as if it is protruding even more while simultaneously letting our eyes be attracted by the shiny silver Roman insignia decorating the armor. This makes it seem like Julius is also a proud/brave man from the way he puffs out his chest and makes him stand out with his shiny silver decor. The camera shot and lighting helps us interpret Caesar as an important figure that's almost an example of what a man should look like, a wise and masculine figure. 

As well, the color used for Julius Caesar's armor differs from the other generals and soldiers visible in the background. The soldiers in the background have a dark red coloration in their armor and bronze/gold detail in their helmets while Caesar's armor is muted colors of brown and silver which still contain clear details of military significance. This makes us interpret Julius as a humble general who doesn't care about being flashy, a true general servant to Rome. The purple Roman standard in the background also gives us foreshadowing for Julius' rise to emperorship as royal purple is meant for royalty, not a classical republic.

With all this in mind the scene/shot helps us determine that Julius Caesar must be an important figure who shows characteristics of wisdom, pride, humbleness, and bravery.  

- Michael Kachanyuk

 


 

Comments

  1. DrKSeptember 14, 2023 at 2:59 PM

    Nice job on the lighting and the color differences. I have never before even noticed the purple standard in the background before. Very neat! One more thing that I find telling about Caesar's qualities as a general and that may be conveyed by this shot is not only that he is in its center, but that his head is turned towards his men, as if they are the ones that he's more interested in than his tent with its comforts.

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