SunSet Blvd
... and harsh. Another example of lighting technique that the director utilizes is in the shot where Norma Desmond has cut her wrist. As she lay on her bed and Joe next to her, the low key light produces strong contrast between the light and dark areas. The fill light forms soft shadows on the actors’ faces so the viewer feels more empathetic in the dramatic shot. The mood is more dramatic because of the difference of lighting as compared to an outside shot where there is high key lighting. Different lighting gives the director some control over the shot. Wilder applies low key lighting and side lighting for a more dramatic and intense mood in some of his shots. Another narrative function of mise-en-scene that can be seen throughout Sunset Blvd is the composition in each shot. Whether the shot is inside or out, in Norma’s bedroom or office, it is highly detailed and balanced. For example, when the homicide squad leaves with Joe’s body on the gurney, that specific shot has two policemen on the left side and two policemen on the right side. Connecting them is Joe’s gurney which seems to make the shot symmetrical and balanced. Another example is when Norma is leaning against the pillar; devastated, upset, and alone. At first glance, this shot may seem very simple and not detailed but in fact it is. In the middle ground, Norma is leaning against a pillar. In the background is another pillar and her shadow casting next to it. It is as if they are two sets of pillars; the actual p...