The long walk home - analysis of Christmas scene
In this snippet of the film The Long Walk Home the director uses music to create atmosphere and to make a clear connection between the different scenes. Since the same piece of music is used throughout these scenes, the viewer is led to connect the two sleeping figures and to see the contrast in their bedrooms. The music used is wistful and gentle, moving quietly on through the sleeping Mary-Catherine, the outdoor Christmas scenes, Herbert asleep at the Cotters' home and Odessa preparing to go to work on Christmas Day. As she moves quietly in the house, the music too is gentle and quiet enough for the viewer to hear tiny sounds of her preparation, such as slight creaking of the floorboards and the crinkling sound of wrapping paper. The music is not a well-known, cheerful celebration of the season, but is reflective and sad. At first the soft music seems to match the sleeping characters and empty, quiet night-time scenes. Towards the end of this section of the film, however, th
The long shot is used to retain the idea of the viewer as onlooker, staying in the dark and looking through into the lighted room. The tree has a few decorations on it, and is quite small. The viewer is saddened by the idea that this mother will not be at home to see her children enjoy finding these presents. The first time that Odessa is in the viewer's thoughts, however, is when one side of the bed is noticeably empty. She places a tiny gift in each of the tops of the socks. The lighting is natural, just the filtered light from either the moon or streetlights outside. At this stage the viewer realises that Odessa needs to go to work (hence the bag and outdoor clothing) and starts to sympathise with her. Once again this reveals the economic standing of the family. She then moves past the Christmas tree and presumably out of the house down the front steps, the way we have seen her go a few times before this in the film. She stops at the place where the viewer can make out three socks hanging up. It is obviously late at night or very early in the morning. She appears to be busy with a small parcel. This is such a contrast to the vast array of presents seen under the Christmas tree at the Thompsons' home and emphasises the fact that the Cotters are poor. From an adult eye level it is necessary to look down at the tree.
Common topics in this essay:
Odessa Odessa,
Christmas Day,
Walk Home,
,
christmas tree,
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