Conflict within Crimes and Misdemeanors
The Contribution of Mise-En-Scene to the Central Conflict In Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), two parallel stories revolve about a central conflict portraying the human dilemma of making moral or spiritually guided choices versus exercising free will. Within this conflict lie issues of the unfairness of life, marital infidelity, jealousy and guilt. The parallel lives of the two main characters reflect two different approaches in making life choices yet result in similarly empty outcomes. Mise-en-scene relates significantly to the portrayal of the conflict and the consequences of the choices made. At a dramatic level is the story of Dr. Judah Rosenthal, a wealthy, respected, Jewish ophthalmologist, who is married but having an affair with a flight attendant. Pressure from Dolores, his girlfriend, forces him to choose ending the affair in a moral but damaging way to his marriage (telling his wife) or engaging in immoral, illegal means to resolve the dilemma (murdering Dolores). This story line represents the "crimes" aspect of the movie's title. At a more comedic, but no less conflictual level, is the story of Clifford Stern, a highly principled documentar . . .
The concept of all-seeing eyes is developed to a greater extent by the presence of his eye disease. The definition of the central conflict is creatively expressed by the use of the set of a movie theater. It also adds significantly to viewers' understanding of the depth of the characters' reactions to the consequences of their choices. Cliff's clothes are as plain, simple, and uncomplicated as his ethics and values first appear to be. Though it appears that murder is not punished and true love is not rewarded, the viewer is left to wrestle with these choices individually, just as in real life. Most strive for it from simple things such as their work and family. Other sets are used in flashbacks to Judah's childhood to assist the viewer in gaining an understanding of the religious and moral upbringing that he and his brother experienced. Both men were left empty as a result of one's crime and the other's misdemeanor. The film of Professor Levy is a prop which attracts Halley (the production assistant) to Clifford and which then causes him to compete with Lester for her affection. For example, Judah's conservative, orthodox upbringing is depicted through other flashbacks to his childhood dinner table where his father expounds on moral and ethical issues including references to the "Eyes of God. Throughout the narrative, the telephone is used to prompt the resolution of conflict and to communicate the consequences of choices made. Judah, while initially devastated over his choice of committing murder, was able to convince himself to accept it as necessary and continue his upper class lifestyle. Also, after Judah's mistress has been murdered, he returns to the scene, finding her dead on the floor with open eyes staring at him blankly. The characterization of Cliff Stern (Woody Allen) also begins with his name, reflecting a person who is outwardly sternly adhering to this ethics and values as shown through producing a documentary film of a philosopher as his life's work.
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