Inception (2010)
dir. Christopher Nolan
Winner of Academy Award Best Cinematography in 2010
Mise-En-Scene Elements
1. Setting and Props
- Bottles of chemicals in foreground and background implies his job as a chemist to create sedative.
- Set in a medicinal shop, further establishing his job.
- Set in a slightly rundown location instead of a slick clean white hospital, implies his financial status as not the most successful chemist/medicine dispenser.
- Organised bottles, implies his neat and meticulous personality.
- Cat on frame left – metaphorical for his independent and intelligent nature
2. Costume , Hair and Make up
- Slightly bushy hair and simple jacket – implies he is above middle classed in financial wealth, but not the highest
3. Blocking, Facial Expressions and Body Language
- Remains seated, implies his power as equals to the character he is talking to (Cobb, in this scene)
- Comfortably seated – implies he is comfortable in the relationship.
- Fingers interlocked is a subtle body language of his secretive nature.
4. Lighinting and Color
- High-Key lighting, low contrast in the lighting.
- Shadows in various parts of the frame metaphorical that there are secrets around the room
- Warm tones to imply a homely feel to the shop instead of an industrial or clinical look.
5. Arrangement of Elements in Frame.
- Diagonal lines brings attention to the character.
- Framed at lower right third of the frame, building visual interest
- Cat on frame left is not a subject of the scene but rather a foreshadowing or metaphor of his character.
- Bottles, paper and stamp on his table implies he was mid work before scene (maybe he’s a busy man?) or he is just messy (like me, haha).