Film Analysis Blog Post - Part 2

 "Champagne Toast" Official Clip | Death on the Nile | 20th Century Studios

In this clip, the characters in the film board a river steamboat for a vacation that will soon turn into a murder mystery that sticks to the typical murder mystery whodunnit subgenre. The scene is dominated by non-diegetic sound with a soundtrack that gives meaning to a relaxed atmosphere the characters are experiencing, representing a normal world before it is turned upside down when a murder happens to set the plot in motion. The soundtrack co-relates with the action occurring on screen as the guests boarding the steamboat, all dressed in white and in light summer, and comfortable clothes represent the laid back attitude that is present among the characters, giving a meaning where in the film's world, no one expects a murder to occur and this should just be any other ordination steamboat journey and vacation, until it isn't. The cinematography in this scene mostly uses longer distance shots to get the full bodies of the actors moving about, boarding the ship, and also seeing their reactions and excitement to start their vacation. it is also noticeable where most camera shots are not static there is some slow, deliberate movement of the cameras while keeping subjects in appropriate and reasonable frame that gives a meaning of giving the audience a sense of this world they are seeing on screen, the environment around the ship, along with the mise-en-scene how the ship is probably luxurious and highlights how these guests boarding the ship are well off and can enjoy such vacation. The use of champagne as a welcome drink also serves to show the wealth of the guests to enjoy such vacation and enjoy such pleasures, especially where the female character in the thumbnail states how "We have enough champagne... the fill the Nile!" and proceeds to fling the liquid in her glass into the river, showing a rather carefree attitude an audience could expect from people on vacation. There are some medium range shots to capture waists and up of characters to see their reactions as the female character is making her toast, and the reactions of the guests smiling upon hearing the news adds to the carefree and relaxed environment that is to be expected until the murder occurs. The editing and cuts are rather consistent in length to help convey that is there nothing surprising, suspenseful, or dramatic to be expected; this is just supposed to be an exciting and optimistic start to what should be a normal vacation and the editing demonstrates this with consistency and creating a lighthearted environment alongside the dialogue and sound. With the importance of the mise-en-scene, sound, cinematography, and editing considered, this clip helps to serve as an example where everything is normal in a film's world, until it isn't as a murder will occur and leads into the film's whodunnit plot.

This film and the clip compares to my project as I seek to recreate the feeling of "everything is normal, until it isn't" feeling by filming a scene where the main character who stumbles upon the corruption mystery is living their normal teenage life, going to school, conversing with friends, etc. until they discover a mystery that has to be solved. Considering the general plot structure of any novel or film, it could most likely involve the protagonist's world being seemingly normal and they are living their lives like they would usually do. However, an event sets the plot in motion that forces the character to interact with the problem they face which could change them, grow them, and affect them in many ways. This film's clip of creating an atmosphere of normality that will soon be turned upside down is something I replicate when the main character is just looking through some documents in the mailroom out of curiosity because it is of interest to them, but a threatening and unsettling text message they receive would serve to raise their suspicions and fears as something has been shifted out of place in their reality that will force the character to confront the issue they face head on rather than trying to hide from it to help move the plot forward.