The Rules of the Game (1939) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Rules of the Game (1939) - Essay Example Its real prints were vanished during the strikes of World War II but it later (until the 1950’s) was redesigned almost completely by French film makers Jean Gaborit and Jacques Durand in cooperation with Jean Renoir. Today the film has been applauded and considered as one of the best films ever created in cinematic history. The main cast of the film comprised of Nora Gregor, Paulette Dubost and Marcel Dalio. Long Take and Deep Space Composition Long Take A long take is an unaltered or uninterrupted shot in a film that lasts much longer than usual shots in the same film or in general relative to others. It is carried out so as to enhance dramatic feel and narrative effect in the film. It is created normally using a special camera that could remain steady instead of shocks and imbalances, a Steadicam. Deep Space A film uses the element of deep space when noteworthy characters of an image are placed both near to and far away from the camera. Here, there is no need to focus on the elements in the image as what is the significance of deep focus. Often, directors want to show the real distance between two objects in a scene to the audience and that images near and distant to the camera are both important. The way of staging in a deep space composition is almost the opposite of shallow space. Jean Renoir is one of the directors who use deep space and deep focus in their films as their signature element. From the Film There are a number of sequences or scenes in the film with a long take and deep space composition. A sequence that can be discussed here is of the stage drama which is performed in a horror genre to entertain the audience. It is a fascinating stage show with interaction with the audience and a piano score as well in the background. This sequence is a single shot with no editing and cuts and a heavy effortful camera work has been done to depict the drama and narration in it. The scene lasts for at least 1 minute 50 seconds without any halts. This se quence pertains to a climax in the film which is a famous house party sequence in which there is a stage performance by amateurs to entertain guests and neighbors. This sequence has been applauded as one of the best moves to show the work of long take and deep space compositions together with no cuts. Characters present are all guests and neighbors with non-professional but enthusiastic actors on the stage entertaining and interacting with the audience. The camera work carried out by Renoir in this sequence is phenomenal. The camera is moving forward and background for more than six or seven times; moving from audience to the stage and then to the backstage, forward into the house to the rooms and corridors and almost everywhere in the house. This camera work is quite appreciable effortless. Each and every character is visible whether near or distant to the camera which shows that a long take and a deep space both have been utilized efficiently. While watching this sequence, a user can see all the movements of characters and the clear picture of the background animations going on; this is an imperative attribute of a deep space composition that every character is visible and not blurred. The light work which seems like lanterns being floated in the air by those performers on the stage is quite nice of a work (Ebert R. 2004). Purpose of such sequences The purpose of long take or deep space compos