One important aspect of the placement is that the plant, a prop, is tall and protruding into the audience’s view of the characters’ bodies slightly. This emphasizes the distance between the two characters and adds to the effect Jane’s arm creates. The distance between the two becomes an interesting dynamic throughout the movie, all the way until the end when Francis asks for her hand in marriage. Their “relationship” is carried on throughout the film with mise-en-scene details, such as the disconnect, but also gentle shapes and tones, in this frame. Through composition and design, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari becomes a film that benefits greatly from the mise-en-scene.
///////////////////////////////////////////o//////////////////l//////I
In the opening sequence of Edward Scissorhands, setting plays an important role in establishing the contrast between the boring suburbs and the Edward’s castle on the hill. The wide angle shots of all the houses as Peg walks around trying to make a sale from her avon products demonstrates a boring suburban neighborhood, where everything look more or less the same. This is accomplished by the choice of pastel colors on each houses. Same goes for the clothes that are worn by the inhabitants of those houses. The bland and boring colors does not allow any individuality between the neighbors so that when Edward’s house is shown way up on the hill, the stark dark contrast between the suburbs and his home will symbolize a great difference between the characters of the suburbs and Edward.
