Lighting

Lighting is a powerful aspect of any film. It enhances the performance by adding a certain tone or mood, which the director is trying to get across to the audience.

Example 1

When the excited passengers are waving goodbye in the opening scene. The director skillfully used the technique of lighting to portray the different time periods. He used a subtle bronze monotone (like the colour in olden day pictures) to show us that this scene was a flashback in time. It was if someone had videoed it back in time, when the boat left the harbour. I think the director used this technique in such a way to show meaning. He wanted the audience to feel the way each passenger did on that specific day. The thrill, excitement, maybe even heartache as they left loved ones behind. I think it also makes the audience wish they were there at the time because it was such an extraordinary event. Although, we wouldn't want to be on the boat.

Example 2

The second example is when the focus is on the shimmery blue water. It is as if there are small spotlights in the waters reflection, which makes it change colour. The ocean colour changes from a light blue, to a deeper blue and then to a black. I believe the director chose to show the deeper meaning behind the water. The light blue shows what ordinary people see when the look at the ocean... just some water. The deeper blue shows us that people know the water is deep but they think nothing more of it. The black represents the unknowing. It portrays to the audience that there are many memories, many secrets, many lives lying in the bottom of that ocean. The director wanted us too understand the full meaning behind that emotion of heartache, which is why he chose this use of lighting.