War is always such an interesting subject for movies, because there are so many stories that can come out of a war-time scenario. Ballad of a Soldier is an example of one of those many stories. For once in a long time, we have watched a movie that does not focus on camera angles. This movie is meant to amplify the good of Russian soldiers by showing that even if it causes them self-sacrifice (Alyosha is barely able to spend any time with his mother.) the soldiers are truly shining examples of their people.
This story is more then one man's journey back home though. The reason this movie is popular to many
(including yours truly) is because it has a theme that everyone can relate to: the desire to return home. Everyone wants to return to where they came from...whether it be the man who sends his wife soap, the girl going to live with her aunt, or the wounded man returning to his wife. We all want to go home, but things come up that change that for us. We can only try our best to return to the ones we love, and hope that is enough.
Though the film didn't focus, on camera angles, I found the camerawork for the one shot in the beginning battle scene interesting. The shot I am referring to is when Alyosha is running from the tank and the camera follows him upside down.
ReplyDeleteIn the Beumers reading it states that "the camera tilts upside down to create the impression of Alesha's vision as he lies in the trench" (121). I'm not sure if I entirely agree with this analysis. As cheesy as it may sound, the first thought that crossed my mind was that Alyosha's world was turned upside down when faced with war and death, thus explaining the fear he describes to his commander due to the intensity of war.
I find sbarron's interpretation of the camera shot far more convincing than Beumers's. One idea I've always toyed with is that it is at this point where Alyosha is really killed--and that the rest of the film is almost an imaginary sort of trip home made by his spirit to say farewell to his mother for one last time. This sort of ghostly appearance on the part of a lost son or lover was very typical fare for traditional ballads. And some mothers have sworn they caught a glimpse of their son on the very day he died in battle (or soon thereafter). It's just an idea I toy with...but certain other aspects of the film sometimes make we wonder...
ReplyDeleteSorry, Ruskaland, to be devoting so much space on your page to camera angles...but you asked for it!!! :>)