Sound of Music

Movie: The Sound of Music, 1965; 174 min

Director: Robert Wise

Actors: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer

Summary:

Maria, a free spirited nun, takes on the role of governess for seven over-disciplined children of an ex-military man. At first the children reject Maria, until she introduces them to a childhood of much more freedom and to the art of music. As the movie progresses, the children and their father gain a passion for music and a newfound love for Maria.

Question 1: How is lighting used throughout the film? Give specific examples.

Throughout the film, lights are used to portray a deeper meaning in the story and in each shot. Lights are also used to draw in the audience’s eye to where they should focus at a each point in the film. For example, when Marie leaves the monastery, there is a high contrast in lighting. When she is still inside the monastery, there is less lighting, making the shot darker. But when Marie leaves the monastery, there lighting becomes brighter. This contrast in lighting indirectly portrays the freedom Marie gains when she leaves the constraints on her creativity from the monastery. When she leaves the darkly light monastery, she enters the brighter outside world and goes into t a new world of freedom for her creativity. Another example of the use of lighting in the film is when Liesl and her boyfriend meet outside in the garden. The scene is lit with a single light coming from a lamppost. The light focuses on the two young lovers, portraying the happiness and light-heartedness of young love. The darkness over everything except for the two also creates a sense that they are living in the moment and nothing else outside that moment matters. These contrasts in lighting both indirectly portray an idea in the film.

Question 2: What is the significance of the color green in the movie?

One dominant color that especially stands out is green. The green can have multiple meanings within the story. Green can portray nature, which is important to Marie because it contributes to her creativity and gives her inspiration for her music. The movie begins with Marie dancing and singing in the countryside with green mountains all around. The green color gives depth to the beautiful Austrian countryside, and makes the audience want to be there in the movie. Green also portrays life: life in nature and life in the children. Marie makes the children play clothes out of green curtains. These play clothes all the children to spend time in nature and play like normal children. In this sense, the green play clothes represent childhood and vitality. Also, green can represent money, which plays an important role in the movie because Captain Von Trapp has a great deal of money. This money influences the entire family and plot, and its great influence is shown through the dominance of green throughout the film.