Cinderella (2015) - note taking
Generic codes
Mise-en-scene: The film is set in a fairy tale kingdom almost like a fairy tale version of France.
Plot: Cinderella's father remarried after her mother's death and his new wife became Cinderella's stepmother (Kate Blanchett) . Her father also dies and so Cinderella is left with her stepmother and 2 stepsister who treat her like a maid. Prince Charming (Richard Madden) comes along and meets Cinderella (Lilly James) who leaves without knowing her name. Prince Charming invites the whole kingdom to the ball in hope to find Cinderella. Cinderella goes to the ball with help from her fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter).
Actors: Lily James is well known for appearing in films/TV dramas where she has etiquette and class such as Downton Abbey. Richard Madden is well known for being a dominant character in films such as the game of thrones and Helena Bonham Carter is very well known for her extraordinary roles she has played.
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Iconography: the iconography is the typical things you associate with Cinderella when you think about it. The glass slippers, the pumpkin turning into a carriage, the big blue dress, the fairy godmother and prince Charming.
Music: the music begins tranquil yet still keeps the fairy tale theme. It then switches in to a more uplifting sound you would expect from a Disney film.
Narrative Codes
Structure (Todorov) -
Equilibrium: Cinderella living with her father since a young age
Disruption: Stepmother and stepsisters come to live with her when her father remarries.
Recognition of disruption: Cinderella actually finds out her stepmother and sisters are evil and treat her like their maid.
New equilibrium: Cinderella lives happily ever after with prince Charming.
Binary oppositions: Kind vs Evil, Princess vs Villain, Truth vs Lies.
Enigma codes may be codes such as does Prince Charming find Cinderella and does Cinderella live happily ever after like the typical Disney princesses.
Technical Codes
Camera framing and shots: throughout the trailer the transitions between shots are mostly fade to blacks to highlight different situations and conversations between characters. Over the shoulder shots are often used between conversations especially when the prince and Cinderella are talking. The trailer also uses an above shot to show Cinderella's ball gown whilst she is spinning and also a significant shot is when Cinderella is walking down the palace stairs at the ball and the camera is set through the onlookers eyes. Cross cuts are also used from when Cinderella was a young girl and was having a conversation with her mother back to her in present day to keep the importance of her mother's words with her.
The music/soundtrack is non-diegetic. The sound plays over the film, it is not in it.
The lighting is often bright in Cinderella's presence however when Cinderella is treated badly by her stepmother and stepsisters it seems gloomy and dark in the house where she lives.
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