Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Miklos Jancso's The Red and the White

The framing and movement complement each other to create a seamless visual blanket out of choppy action and weak characters. These weak characters help further the message of the film by not allowing the audience to identify with them as individuals and while suggesting the futility of their actions. One may feel passionate about the ideals of one of the two sides fighting the war in the film, but the two sides are seen in repetitive circles of violence that glorifies neither side, only confuses them with each other. A deep pattern of violence is presented in the film's imagery.
The Reds (communists) are separated from the Whites (anti-Revolution czarists) by their levels of brutality but that is the only polarization this film endorses.
Due to the excessive long shots and predominant lack of close-ups, indistinguishable uniforms, and the lack of psychological presentation and/or development of the characters, the importance of the identity of the two sides is non-existent.
The focus of the film presents a profound anti-war message. It's movement accentuates rigid structures of warfare and their effects on culture by plotting points of warfare on a time line.

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