One of the most remarkable aspects of Kurosawa’s film editing is the use of cinematic punctuation. Rashomon has 420 shots in all. This is twice the average of his other films. Yet these shots never call attention to themselves. They make it possible for a viewer to feel the film. All the shots, stationary or moving, are precisely calculated with their effect on screen in mind. One second less or more would have spoilt the effect of the shot. The dagger that drops is allowed to quiver just twice! Continue reading
Category Archives: Film
The punctuation of Rashomon
Posted in Film
The composition of Rashomon
Rashomon is an apparent mystery, an elliptical intent, which has fascinated audiences all over the world for more than 60 years now. Rashomon is Kurosawa in his full glory, and the cinematic intensity of the film is absolutely unmatched. For example, in the walk of the woodcutter through the jungle, the impressions of the passing trees overhead, the sun, the glint of the sunlight on the axe is highly celebrated. Continue reading
Posted in Film
Meaning of Kolaveri Di
Kolaveri means hatred, a rage to kill. This is a simple and funny heartbreak song. A song that sounds stupid at first, and then slowly, grows. The makers of the Tamil film ‘3’ have hit the right chord. They have tapped the Internet. The nature of social networks and the propensity to share things that people find interesting gives the song a wider audience.
Posted in Film, Music, Personal, Philosophy
Of films and dreams
Film critics see film making in three discrete steps. First being screenplay when the script and its flow is decided. The next step is cinematography, where the film is actually shot, with actors being the medium. The third step is editing, where the film is made presentable to the audience. It is however, the director, who always carries the complete picture in his head, and makes these discrete steps merge. Continue reading
The wise and the biblical
It is beyond doubt that the two greatest Gangster films of the 90’s were Pulp Fiction and Goodfellas. What are the purpose of these two films exactly? I’m not sure. But they do deal a lot with the theme of power. Both these films stand out from the regular Gangster films we see around. What is so different about these two films? Continue reading
सौरभ राय | Sourav Roy 