ARTICLE WRITING

Analysis of Lady Bird (2017) and Vertigo (1958) Films

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis of Lady Bird (2017) and Vertigo (1958) Films

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Analysis of Lady Bird (2017) and Vertigo (1958) Films

Vision:

Lady bird is a film directed by Greta Gerwig. It is a coming-of age film that reflects the relationship of a mother and her daughter. Gerwig's goal seems to be to capture the authenticity of growing up by exploring identity formation, emotional turmoil, and relationship of a mother and her child. The goal is effectively conveyed in the film through emotional rawness, where the viewers can relate with Christine's (lady bird) emotions after she experiences heartbreak, and even breaks her virginity. The film is a character-driven narrative that makes the viewers realize how difficult it is for a mother to let her child move to another town for studies. The film brings about familiarity, as it tells the story of Christine, which is relatable with most senior school students and their parents. Vertigo, on the other hand, is a film presented by Hitchcock Alfred and presents a darker psychological vision (Anthony Bergeron Films, 2019). The film's vision involves exploration of obsession, manipulation, and a thin line between love and control. The vision is effectively conveyed on the screen through the characters, Judy, Scott, and Madeleine. Madeleine and Judy are the same person, but Judy manages to bring out the characters uniquely. The film uses flashback, thus aiding in realizing how Gavin manipulated Scott into thinking that his wife was possessed.

Style:

Greta Gerwig uses an intimate and character centered style in the film, Lady Bird. The film often features dialogue and authentic performances. Close-ups emphasize personal moments in the film. They also emphasize imperfections in her characters. For example, Christine is an imperfect character, who makes mistakes as she grows. Recurrent themes in the film include growing up and self-discovery (Movie Spoiler Alerts, 2018). The plot is focused on Christine's emotional journey. Vertigo on the other hand, uses suspense and psychological tension and visual storytelling. The recurrent themes in the film include possessions, identify confusion, and unhealthy obsession (Anthony Bergeron Films, 2019). His use of vivid colors such as black and green bring out his unique style.

Cinematography:

In Lady Bird, cinematography complements Gerwig's vision through camera movements, angles, and framing. The use of natural light creates a warm and nostalgic atmosphere. The camera framing often depict characters within their environment. The framing highlights that characters live in a small town. The precise camera movement reflect emotional tone in the scene. In Vertigo, the cinematographer creates iconic visuals. For example, the use of dolly zoom creates a sense of vertigo. Camera movement evoke suspense and a sense of unease, especially with long tracking shots.

Structure:

            The narrative structure in Lady Bird both conventional and unconventional. It is conventional as it follows Christine's senior year in high school, and unconventional as it captures fragmented moments of Christine's life. The unconventional structure allows the viewers to relate with Christine's emotions, as they watch her grow, make mistakes, and experience pain. Vertigo, on the other hand, has an unconventional narrative structure. The film is divided in two halves, one on which Scott investigates Madeleine, and the other where he is obsessed with Madeleine and tries to reconstruct her image. The structure challenges the audience's expectations, and creates a sense of disorientation, which relates to what Scott experiences.

Audience Engagement:

In Lady Bird, Gerwig engages with the audience by addressing relatable themes and letting them experience the character's emotions. In the film, the audience watch Christin grow. She forms relationships with boys and girls, loses her virginity, undergoes identity crisis and choses to study far from home. Her experience related with what most teen girls experience. The audience also relate with the emotions brought about in the film. For example, parents can relate with the pain Christine's mother experienced after her daughter chose to study in New York University. A moment that surprised me in the film is when Christine figured out that her boyfriend was gay. I also never expected her to encourage him to accept his identity, especially since she battled identity crisis. In Vertigo, Hitchcock engages with the audience by his use of visual symbols such as colors (Anthony Bergeron Films, 2019). He challenges the audience's perceptions through the halfway shift of the narrative. Through suspense and revelation of key information like Gavin's manipulation, Hitchcock makes the audience emotionally invested in the film. I did not expect the film to end with Judy's death.

Themes:

            The director effectively conveyed themes in Lady Bird, as he touched on every aspect of teen girl experience, including identity formation, exploration, and parent-child relationship (Movie Spoiler Alerts, 2018). The film also highlights class differences, as Lady Bird dreams of a life better than where she was brought up. The film effectively conveys Christine's journey to self-acceptance through humor and emotional depth. In Vertigo, Hitchcock presents complex message of possession, manipulation, and control. Gavin manipulates Scott, making him a witness in Madeleine's alleged suicide. The themes in the film are dark. A notable lesson from the film is that however long it may take, individuals have a capacity to overcome their phobias.

 

References

Anthony Bergeron Films, (2019). MY #1 FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME! ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S VERTIGO EXPLAINED (SPOILERS!). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO1MMhYwLb4

Movie Spoiler Alerts, (2018). Movie Spoiler Alerts - Lady Bird (2017) Video Summary. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MynyQDwDcg