There are many different elements that go into the act of making a movie. All these parts are intricately put together to create the films that we watch. One of the most underappreciated elements that go into the crafting of movies is mise de scene, which is essentially everything we see onscreen as the movie progresses.
Mise de scene can be best described as “all the elements that appear on camera, how they are arranged, and the overall look and feel they combine to convey.” Mise de scene is one of the most integral parts of what makes up a movie, as it literally creates the effect the movie will have on a viewer.
With countless examples of movies with unique and beautiful mise de scene, I found it hard to choose just one film. I eventually chose the film Edward Scissorhands by Tim Burton. Burton is known for his vibrant and gothic mise de scene that goes into almost all his films.
His distinct style is seemingly influenced by German Expressionist cinema, and many can recognize whether a movie is by Tim Burton just from a single freeze-frame.
Edward Scissorhands chronicles the story of the titular character, a man-made human with a freakish appearance who journeys from his imposing mansion to a neighboring suburban town following his meeting of a kind lady named Peg.
The film follows Edward as he is at first accepted into the town, until they try and make him conform to their way of living in the suburbia. While I believe the story of this film is a highly compelling tale of individuality and conformity, it is the mise de scene that really elevates the movie to another level.
One of elements that truly stands out is the phenomenal set design. Burton immediately conveys the differences between Edward and the citizens through the stark contrast between his mansion and the town.
Edward’s mansion is introduced as a gothic, gloomy locale painted in shades of grey. His home is shrouded in shadows, covered with cobwebs and dust. Contray to this, the suburbia is depicted in bright colors, with everything from the grass to the homes being portrayed in lush shades.
The mansion is also depicted as very isolated, sitting far away from anywhere else up on a hill, whereas the town thrives in its connectivity with every home being but a short walk from others.
The way in which the mansion and town are depicted stresses the dissimilarity between characters, hinting at the mysterious, reclusive nature of Edward and the social, flamboyant personalities present in the townspeople.
One of the other most prominent elements of mise de scene in the film is the costumes and makeup. The costumes and makeup build upon the set design, with Edward and the citizen’s depictions being in stark contrast to one another.
Edward is dressed in a black leather outfit, and he is covered in very pale makeup. The makeup artists specifically focused on dark shading around his eyes, giving them a sunken look. His face is also covered in scars, a result of years of having to deal with his scissor hands.
Edward’s design represents his isolated and mysterious personality, as well as giving him an almost intimidating appearance. The townspeople are depicted as the definition of suburban attire, with bright and colorful clothing.
However, the citizens are purposefully shown as dissimilar from one another; this symbolizes how they all conform to the societal standards present in their town. The use of costume is also used to symbolize the development of the character’s personality as the film progressed.
When Edward starts to become more open to the town, he begins to wear clothing like its denizens. Another example is Kim, as she eventually adapts to dressing like Edward. As she continues to grow in defiance of the overbearing conformity of the town, she begins to dress in dark colors as opposed to the bright colors of the rest of the town.
Another element that is prominently employed is the use of lighting. At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to Edward in the dark, foreboding mansion. When Peg first meets him, he is just a silhouette in the shadows.
The dark lighting symbolizes Edwards’s isolation and goes to show his lonely mental state. When Edward leaves the mansion and becomes happy among the citizens of the town, he is depicted in a colorful light that represents his increasing joy.
However, his joy does not last forever, and this is further characterized by the film’s return to dark, low-key lighting. As Edward kills Jim and is forced to run away from the town back to the isolation of the mansion, he is depicted again in a literal dark light.
The use of lighting is employed to further create the atmosphere of each scene, representing the mood of the characters. Sadly, as Edward returns to his lonely existence, he finds himself back in the shadows of the gothic mansion.
These are but a few of the elements of mise en scene that worked together to create this film, elevating the story by depicting it in a memorable style. The mise en scene is what truly turned this film into an unforgettable experience, as I do not believe the movie would be as acclaimed as it is without the way it was depicted.
Works Cited
Barsam, R. M., & Monahan, D. (2010). Looking at movies: An introduction to film. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Burton, T. (Director). (1990) Edward Scissorhands [Film] 20th Century Fox
Wilkins, H. (2021, June 8). 20 mise en SCÈNE elements every Filmmaker should know. StudioBinder. Retrieved September 13, 2021, from https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/mise-en-scene-elements/.
