How does the Mise-en-scene create meaning throughout the film?
Throughout the film the frequent use of Icebergs, portrays Jean Bauby's life in which the Iceberg carries connotations of power, significance and coldness, presenting his life before stroke as he was an Elle magazine editor therefore he was significant and powerful within his occupation. Also the frequent use of the dream sequences of the Diving Bell is a portrayal of himself in which represents how he is trapped in his own body unable to move. Also the dream sequences of the 'butterfly' is another a portrayal of himself but instead his mind. In which the butterfly carries connotations of freedom and creativity. Also the use of voiceovers portrays the frustration of his paralysis as he is unable to speak he can therefore only communicate through his left eye even though he is still actively speaking in his mind.
How do the representations and role in the scene of Jean-Do shaving his father and the scene where his children visit him switch and alternate?
In the scene where Jean-Do is shaving his father, he is represented as lively and energetic, but also in control as his fathers vulnerability is portrayed through this scene, by the use of close up shots. In the scene where his children visit him on the beach he is now unable to move and speak presenting him like his father, to be vulnerable and static as they are both stuck. His father being stuck in his apartment and Jean-Do being stuck in his own body. This draws parallel to the earlier scene of him shaving his father as he is now incapable of being lively and energetic showing that a lot can change in a same amount of time, as these scenes were days apart from each other showing the drastic changing character of Jean-Do.
Significance of the Icebergs
Throughout the film the frequent use of the imagery of icebergs is shown, which is a representation of Jean-Dos life. The icebergs carry connotations of power and significance whichever is then seen to break away by the images of icebergs falling which could represent Jean-Do beginning to gain back his humanity due to his condition therefore becoming less cold as a human and feeling less powerful, in the credits of the film the iceberg is then seen to be in reverse, to which could suggest that the cycle of life has begun again as at the end of the film Jean-Do does die, but also could suggest that even though his condition of locked in syndrome did lead to him feeling less significant he still gained his power through this and regained back his humanity in result of the stroke.
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