A scene is selected from the movie “The Thin Red Line”
1. What is this story about?
The Thin Red Line is a 1998 American war film which tells a fictional story of United States Forces during the Battle of Mount Austen in World War II. It portrays men in C Company, and in particular, those soldiers played by Sean Penn, Jim Caviesel, Nick Nolte, Elias Koteas and Ben Chaplin.
2. What do you think will happen next?
There will be war at the Guadalcanal Island.
3. Who are these characters?
Melanesians native and the US army.
4. What are they doing?
They are living with Melanesians natives in the South Pacific. He is found and imprisoned on a troop carrier by his company First Sergeant.
5. What sort of people are they?
The white men are described as army looking. And from my view, the villagers living there are suffering from poverty, from the looks.
6. What can you tell about the relationships between the characters in the scene?
The main characters are having fun with the Melanesians natives, the main characters seems to be a caring person. The children there seems to like them.
7. Where is it set?
Guadalcanal Island (Melanesian Natives)
8. Why has the film/program maker chosen this particular background or location?
To show the audience how hard life could be there.
9. What does it mean for the story?
The location and the scene used by the director Terence Malick’s is an icon to show that where the Melanesians live their daily lives, encountering danger every day.
10. How does it relate to the story?
Anxiety is shown in the acting of the characters with their movements being followed by a steady cam. They seem intent on running but realize the futility. The last shot is of the patrol boat anchored, shot from another moving boat that is circling it. There is an evil quality about the sunset, the water almost blood red.
11. Look at the props - how are they relevant to the story?
Most of the natives are not wearing any clothes. The army can easily be recognized by their body figure.
12. Are any props of particular significance?
Yes
13. List all the features used by students to find out this information - such as sound, acting, props, camera work, colour, location music etc.
Acting – the actors are having fun with the natives there. They are acting as nothing is going to happen there. But the truth is, there is going to be war and not all may survive.
Camera works – a medium close up is used when the U.S Army Private Witt (Jim Caviezel) had a conversation with one of the mother there ;
“The kids never fight (dialogue metaphor)
Are you afraid of me?
Yes
Why?-You look of Army
It doesn’t matter
It doesn’t matter.”
Color – the color tone used for this movie is a little bit dull. This is to show the mood of chill.
The color also shows the timeline of this movie is from the old days.
Location Music – the music used from this scene gives a really calm feeling towards the audience.
Posted by
Izham Adly B Mohd Sofi
1091101155
Based on my opinion , I have to say that movies should be appreciated more because not only does it entertain us but also helps us to understand more on a certain event for example the movie above " Thin Red Line". The producer succeeded in making the film as realistic as possible by setting of the locations and colour tone of the set.
For me, film is an entertainment for us to watch. That was before when I'm not learning this semiotic. Lecturer turn this to our class, and he explain everything. The producer of always give many sign whenever this film played. Just from the poster have a lot of hidden meaning. There are a soldier, grass and dirty face to spread the message of the storyline film. Film will not just entertainment, but it is become more exciting when we see those kind of sign that will tell what will happen next.