re: Apocalypse Now Movie

quote:

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how do you think lighting and mise-en-scene help to show bias towards Willard's mission?

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I think there was some strategic lighting, but FFC doesn't do a whole lot in this film, beyond making it appropriate for the scene - obviously the final act has LOTS of lighting cues, but that was to help enhance/build tension, rather than establish bias.

Now, mise-en-scene, you have that Willard is clearly "uncomfortable" in civilization- the narration only reinforces that. As they get into combat and, more importantly, the jungle, he gets more and more comfortable - "Never get off the boat" is the back to reality jar, but even then, where Willard keeps his head, clearly has a sixth sense about "another" predator nearby - establishes him as co-equal with the tiger (he even wears so-called "tiger stripe" utilities to distinguish him from the brown river navy folks). (And - he had already gotten "off the boat" and out of their army, again, as the narration reinforces.)

Finally - he completes his mission - what his bosses told him to do - but for the wrong reason. He kills Kurtz to replace him, not to terminate his command as was his higher HQ's intent.