Captain Fantastic: Ideologies and Themes #2 (RITUALS)

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 RITUALS 

THE FUNERAL

Cinematography 

  • When Ben wakes up, he hallucinates and sees his wife. His wife is shown through his POV in extreme close up shots and his actions match what the audience sees in his POV and out of his POV.
  • Close-ups of people crying and grieving.
  • Close up of Ben over the casket with the flowers to show he brings light and contentment for Lesley.
  • Handheld the camera as the security grab and escort Ben out.
  • Establishing shot of the family as they enter the Church.
  • Close-ups outside the church showing the children facial expressions
Mise-en-scene
  • They enter the church with saturated bright clothing rather than the traditional black attire, as they believe in celebrating life and not the fact that she is dead.
  • Ben wears red which can be linked to a superhero and he has not fulfilled his superhero role. He has let his children and Lesley down.
  • Flowers in the girl's hair - symbolism of nature, therefore portraying that they brought nature with them
  • The priest mentions Lesley's dog before her husband and children.
  • Ben mentions that his wife followed Buddhist practices but the ceremony was Christian and it continues like nothing happened after Ben was escorted out.
  • " Who are the police going to listen to? you, a hippy, or me?" - Jack tries to persuade Ben not to go and save her body as Jack hates Ben. A power imbalance is shown here.
  • Security isn't usually present at funerals, therefore implying that Ben is perceived as a threat. 
  • Jack and Abby haven't met some of the grandchildren before which explains how their family is unconventional.
  • The police are an authority figure that Ben highly disagrees with.
  • A lot of profanity during the funeral, which is unnatural in funerals as it can be disrespectful.
Sound
  • Ben diegetically hits the casket to make the audience feel shocked as it can be seen as him being disrespectful (open to interpretation)
  • Calm piano music after the children argue with their dad about going to the wake.
  • Silence is used to reiterate Ben's guilt and disappointment in failing the mission. 
Ideology
  • Binary Oppositions - Light vs Dark - Ben and his children vs everyone else in the funeral.
  • The children aren't grieving over their mother's death.
  • Feminism - Jack tells Abby to stop crying and focus on Lesley.
  • The patriarchal power struggle between Ben and Jack.
  • Male Gaze - See Lesley through ben's perspective.
  • Liberalism - Ben brings liberalism to the funeral for his wife.
  • The swap of roles - His children tell Ben to stop and rein it back in which adults usually tell their children to do.
Spectatorship
  • We align with the children, then Abby then the children once again.
  • We express sympathy for Ben when he leaves and his children tell him to stop.
Themes: Different opinions on what was right for Lesley


THE CREMATION

Cinematography
  • The lighting is ethereal and magical through the windows - naturalistic nature.
  • Establishing shot of the view, nature, beauty.
  • Establishing shot of the coffin and the scenery - they are bringing Lesley back to nature.
  • Establishing shot of her coffin shows that she is just one dead person in society. She is dead and small. 
  • Close-ups of their hands - sending their mother off together as a family. 
Mise-en-scene
  • Bo cuts his hair to make himself seem like an average 18 year old ready for when he leaves to travel.
  • The mum looks beautiful although she is dead.
  • "Little Bird" - Freedom.
  • Pyre - a celebration of life
  • Naturalistic flowers
  • It was everything their mother wished for.
Sound
  • Silence as they all take it in slowly
  • Diegetic music is played and sung by the children and Ben - Nature and happiness, which brings back the campfire scene.
  • Choir, religious-like
  • "Sweet child of mine" - their relationship with the mother.
Ideology
  • Liberalism
  • Religion
  • Family unit
  • Binary Oppositions of Jack and Ben's funerals
Spectatorship
  • The spectator aligns themselves with the children whilst they sing sweet child of mine
Themes: Family, happiness, positivity.


Ideas inspired by Quizlet flashcards.



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