Django Essay

Chloe laws – film Studies AS

How does Mise-en-scene and Performance construct meaning and provoke response in the extract?

I have chosen to analyse ‘Django Unchained’ released December 2012. This film falls within the genres of Action, Western and drama and was directed by Quentin Tarantino. The story follows German Bounty Hunter Dr. King Schultz (played by Christoph Waltz) who buys the freedom of a slave, Django (Jamie Foxx) in order to help him hunt Wanted men. Instead he finds himself assisting Django in finding his wife, Broomhilda von Shaft (Kerry Washington) and freeing her also.

The extract I chose from the scene ‘Old Ben’ Shows plantation owner Calvin Candie (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) confronting Django and Schultz about their plan to buy Broomhilda who is enslaved on the forth biggest plantation in Mississippi, ‘Candie Land’. I believe that this scene is suitable as it clearly represents a main theme, power, which is interpreted through the use of Mise-En-Scene and Performance.

The scene is set in a dining room, as indicated by the large table set with napkins, glasses and light candles. It is immediately clear that Candie is extremely wealthy; this is shown by a number of features of Mise-en-scene. For example, the room is decorated with dark, burgundy wallpaper and contains carved, wooden furniture. This gives the idea that Candie likes to be extravagant and show his wealth, which enables him to look superior over others. Also, he is dressed in a dark suit which is buttoned and his tie done up tightly, expressing his professional, serious manor and again reflecting his wealth and position as Plantation owner. To expand, I believe that Quentin Tarantino had decided that this character should wear multiple large rings as DiCaprio constantly uses hand actions in his performance to exaggerate what he’s saying and show his confidence. This not only projects Candie’s fortune to the characters in the scene, but also to the audience, which gives him a pretentious, egotistical Bravado.

In contrast, Django is dressed in a brown coat and black shirt, which appears more casual and neutral in comparison to Candies layered, fitted costume. Schultz, who is posing as an affluent Businessman, is dressed smartly in a grey suit but does not compare to Candies accessorized costume. The three men fit the historical context of pre-civil war, which is communicated by their slicked-back hair, beards and suits. There is also use of makeup to make Candie’s teeth look stained and dirty, which is appropriate for the time period as dental hygiene was poor.

Interestingly, there is a large, marble statue of two fighters displayed behind Candie. Earlier in the film we learn that Candie is an enthusiast for the sport Mandingo Fighting. We see the true brutality of this when Candie is first introduced, as he is engrossed in a fight between two men who fight to the death. I believe that this statue is a representation of Candies violent, cruel nature as it glorifies him as a ‘trainer’; it is an exhibit of his bestiality used to intimidate others.

In this scene, Leonardo DiCaprio uses numerous props to give a memorable and theatrical performance. He begins by slowly taking out a saw and waving it as he talks, his quiet, calm tone of voice juxtaposes his actions and appears sinister. This also builds suspense as the audience are expecting DiCaprio to suddenly do something with this prop. He continues by sawing the ‘skull of old Ben’ to which Schultz is shown looking uncomfortable as he turns to Django for reassurance. In this moment the room is quiet as the sound of crickets can be heard in the distance, this amplifies the clanging of Candies instruments and cracking of the skull, putting the audience in to this tense, intimate moment as if they are there.

A key moment is when Candie addresses Django only, referring to him as ‘bright boy’; he explains that his skull would have ‘the same three dimples as Old Ben’. He does this dramatically as he often pauses to point at objects such as the Hammer and skull to exaggerate what he’s saying. He uses this tool as if he is educating Django and belittles him by speaking slowly as if he doesn’t understand.  The camera follows this prop validating Candies control of the conversation and highlighting the gruesome imagery of the Hammer and skull.  He also makes a violent remark by saying “if I took this Hammer here…and I bashed in your skull with, you would have the same three dimples, in the same place, as Old Ben”. Candies casual, calm attitude towards this threat reveals the true barbaric nature of his character as it is said with true intention and purpose.

I believe that Candies charade is to subdue Django, as he is now aware that he posses Django’s wife Broomhilda, who he has travelled far to find. He also holds full authority as Django and Schultz are in his plantation and want his ‘property’ Broomhilda. Candie uses this to his advantage, knowing that Django and Schultz will obey him in fear of loosing Broomhilda. Overall, Candie believes that he overpowers Django purely due to race. Although his brutal punishments on slaves are shown before, I feel that what he talks about in this scene truly portrays his incurable, deluded attitude towards slaves. For example, he talks about how the skull of old Ben, a slave, has three dimples in the skull that all Africans would have. He continues to say that “these three dimples exist in the area of the skull most associated with, civility” implying that slaves were made to politely obey others and trying to excuse what himself and generations of his family have been doing by owning plantations run by slaves.  I feel that Quentin Tarantino has created this character as a reflection of some people and their attitudes today as a harsh reality of what some people still believe.