Mise En Scene Research – Inception, 2010

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).

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