Review on Sunrise

Review on Sunrise

Introduction to Cinema Studies

Assessment Task 2

For this assignment I have chosen question 2 on the discussion of a particular edit. The film I have chosen to discuss is Sunrise, and the edit is from the portion of the film where the lady from the city and the husband are discussing the city at the lake.

I chose this particular edit for a couple of reasons the first being that for it’s time the effect it produces is quite remarkable. It’s also the scene that caught my eye and held it for the longest period. Visually rich without the need of sound.

The edit flows through a variety of images and the shots that surround it are filled with references and common cliches that get the point across.

The edit is graphically continuous as it dissolves from shot to shot without any solid cuts. We begin with the city girl telling the husband that he should come to the city. The scene then dissolves to an image of a huge brass band busily and noisily at play. This shot is in complete contrast to the serenity of the still country and the bright silent moonlight. The edit then continues to dissolve into an angled shot of a city street teeming with people hurriedly about their business. This shot is dissolved with that of the band, creating the feeling of organised chaos. This dissolve reiterates the hustle and bustle feeling of the city in contrast to that of the country.

The edit then dissolves back to the scene at the waterfront where the city girl is dancing away to the imagery she has created through her tales to the husband. He stares at her wide-eyed as the cliche’ country person reacts to the big city, almost hypnotically.

I believe that this edit encompasses most of the major themes of the film. Firstly we are given a rivalry or good Vs evil, or slow Vs fast, or nature Vs cocnrete. The good countryman meets dazzling evil city girl and is hypnotized by the glitz and glamour. On one hand we are shown the serenity of the lake and through the dissolves we are brought into a fast pace with the band and the people, that finishes with a lakeside jive from the city girl.

The edit creates an increasing rhythmic relationship. It gives you the feel of stepping on the gas pedal. It starts at a solid stable shot that in its entirety from still water to still people gives us the feeling of dead calm.