Sunrise- Key Scenes

Question 1

Scene 1: Intro to woman from the city. Performance, Mise-en-scene, Sound

Answer 1

PERFORMANCE:
Over-exaggerated acting typical of the silent period.
The Wftc’s walk is fast and energetic, emphasising her assertive nature.
As we see the Wftc fussing around with hair and makeup it creates a contrast between her and the Wife, presenting the Wftc as vain and controlling.
The Wftc whistles to the man, contrasting typical gender roles whilst the Man remains passive.
MISE-EN-SCENE:
The Wftc’s short revealing clothes highlight that she is a flapper and contrast her to the more traditional clothes of the Wife. The darkness of her clothes represent a typical feature of German expressionism- light Vs dark. This is similarly shown through the two women’s hair colours.
The messy room of the Wftc contrasts traditional roles of women in the period again juxtaposing her to the Wife.
Sound
The use of music increases tension as we follow the Wftc and watch the Man make his choice.