Corpse Bride (2005)
Directed by Tim Burton
Victor Van Dort
The protagonist. Victor is a shy and clumsy young man,
accidentally proposes to the undead Emily and becomes
"married" to her. He comes from a nouveau riche family of
fish merchants, set to wed Victoria, the daughter of
impoverished aristocrats, in an arranged marriage. After
Victor messes up the wedding rehearsal, he practices his
vows in the woods, unknowingly placing the ring on Emily's
finger, awakening her from the grave. Victor is transported
to the Land of the Dead but tricks Emily into returning to the
Land of the Living. However, misunderstandings arise,
leading to a complex love triangle. Ultimately, Victor and
Victoria reunite, Emily finds peace, and justice prevails.
Emily (the Corpse Bride)
• Emily is a charismatic but tragic character in the 2005 film of the
same name. Voiced by Helena Bonham Carter, Emily was
murdered by her original fiancé, and her remains merged with the
forest. Victor Van Dort, a young man rehearsing his wedding vows,
accidentally places a ring on her finger, marrying her unintentionally
and awakening her as a reanimated corpse. Victor finds himself in
the Land of the Dead and eventually returns to the Land of the
Living. Emily is determined to have her happy ending with Victor,
however misunderstandings and jealousy ensue when Victor
reconnects with his intended bride, Victoria. After Emily realises
that she is ‘trapping’ Victor in the same way she had been trapped
by her untimely death, she releases Victor, allowing him to marry
Victoria, and gains her own freedom, dispersing into the
environment as a cloud of butterflies.
Nell Van Dort
• Nell is an organised and stuck-up woman. She is
married to William, a successful fish merchant, but
she desires to be ‘more’. She and her husband have
arranged a marriage between their son Victor and
Victoria Everglot in order to gain more of a step in
high society, without knowledge that the Everglots
have run their fortune into the ground. She believes
that she is being supportive to her son, Victor,
although her comments (such as “reeling Victoria
in”) only make the situation worse for Victor.
William Van Dort
• Victor’s father, and the husband of Nell. William is
less obsessed with getting status as his wife is and
his general nature is much more amiable and softspoken. He acts as the gentle counterpart to his
wife, but generally doesn't contribute much to Victor
in the marriage.
Mr and Mrs Everglot
In the film "Corpse Bride," Mr. and Mrs. Everglot are the parents
of Victoria, the female lead. They are portrayed as aristocratic,
snobbish, and preoccupied with maintaining their social status.
Mr. Everglot is tall and thin, while Mrs. Everglot is shorter and
rounder. They arrange a marriage between their daughter,
Victoria, and the wealthy Victor Van Dort to restore their
dwindling fortune. The Everglots are primarily concerned with
appearances and their own financial stability, often oblivious to
Victoria's feelings. Throughout the story, they are depicted as
disapproving and unsupportive parents, and are quick to arrange
a new marriage to Barkis Bittern when they find out that Victor is
no longer available.
The Gothic Genre
‘Gothic’ is a genre of film and literature that is characterised
by its exploration of darker themes, eerie settings, such as
haunted mansions and castles, the supernatural, religion, and
the past. Here’s how it is represented in Corpse Bride.
1.Setting: The film is primarily set in a gloomy, Victorian-era village with eerie, dilapidated
buildings, fog-covered streets, and a cemetery. This setting creates a dark and foreboding
atmosphere that is characteristic of Gothic fiction. Events happen at night under the
moonlight.
2.Characters: The characters in "Corpse Bride" embody Gothic archetypes. Victor is the
classic Gothic hero, a timid and sensitive young man who finds himself entangled in a
supernatural world. Emily, the Corpse Bride, represents the undead and tragic figures
often found in Gothic tales. Lord Barkis embodies the role of the villain, with his sinister
intentions and dark secrets.
3.Themes: The film explores Gothic themes such as death, the afterlife, the supernatural,
and the macabre. It delves into the idea of love transcending death, a common motif in
Gothic literature.
4.Visual Aesthetic: The film's animation style and design draw heavily from Gothic art and
architecture, featuring ornate details, intricate costumes, and eerie, otherworldly
landscapes.
5.Music: The film's score, composed by Danny Elfman, adds to the Gothic ambiance with
its haunting melodies and orchestration.
6. Symbols: Crows are often associated with death and the macabre, contributing to the
film's dark and Gothic atmosphere. They appear at pivotal moments, adding an eerie and
foreboding element to the story.
Themes in Corpse Bride
Arranged marriage versus marrying for love: The film delves into different facets of love, from
arranged marriages and societal expectations to genuine romantic love. It contrasts the arranged
engagement between Victoria and Victor with the unconventional love that blossoms between Victor
and the Corpse Bride, Emily.
Death and the Afterlife: Central to the plot is the theme of death and the afterlife. The Land of the
Dead is depicted as an alternate reality, and the film raises questions about what happens after we die
and the concept of eternal rest.
Identity and Self-Discovery: Victor's journey involves self-discovery as he navigates between the
Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead. His character development centers on finding his true
self and making choices that align with his values and desires.
Power and class: The Everglot family's desire to restore their social status through Victoria's
marriage to Victor is a commentary on the importance of class and wealth in society. Lord Barkis's
true intentions highlight the dangers of valuing wealth over genuine connections.
Individuality and Nonconformity: The film celebrates individuality and nonconformity, as characters
like Emily and Victor challenge societal norms and expectations, ultimately choosing love over
tradition.
Sacrifice: The concept of sacrifice is present in the film, as characters make selfless choices for the
well-being of others. Victor's willingness to sacrifice his life for Emily and Emily's decision to release
him from their marriage vows are examples of this theme.
Power and religion in
Victorian times
Colour as a motif
Colour serves as a powerful visual tool to convey thematic depth and narrative
contrast. The film employs a stark juxtaposition of color between the Land of the
Living and the Land of the Dead to underscore key themes.
The Land of the Living is depicted in muted and desaturated colors, emphasizing
the lifelessness and emotional coldness of this realm. The characters here are
trapped in societal expectations and traditions, reflected in their colorless
surroundings.
In contrast, the Land of the Dead bursts with vibrant and saturated hues,
symbolizing vitality, emotional depth, and freedom from the constraints of the
living world. This colorful world represents the characters' newfound liberation in
death, where they can fully express their personalities and desires.
The use of color becomes particularly poignant in the transformation of Emily, the
Corpse Bride. Her transition from a monochromatic, skeletal figure to a
resplendent, butterfly-adorned bride illustrates her journey from death to
liberation and love.
Overall, the motif of color in "Corpse Bride" not only enhances the film's visual
appeal but also serves as a storytelling device, highlighting the stark differences
between life and death, conformity and freedom, and emotional repression and
expression.
Butterfly motif
In the film "Corpse Bride," the butterfly symbolises transformation,
freedom, and the connection between life and death.
• At the start of the movie, Victor is seen drawing a butterfly from a
living butterfly that is trapped in glass. He releases the buttefly, which
flys around the city, revealing the stern, cold, Victorian setting.
• At the end of the film Emily undergoes a dramatic transformation
from a skeletal figure to a swarm of butterflies, representing her
release from the constraints of death.
• She uses butterflies to communicate with the living world,
demonstrating her ability to bridge the gap between life and death.
• Visually, the butterflies add beauty to the dark setting and reinforce
themes of love transcending death and the mysteries of the afterlife.
Music as a motif
The film’s opening theme song is "According to Plan," sung by the Van Dorts in a lively and whimsical
way, and the Everglots in a sinister and foreboding way. This sets the stage for the comedic and
fantastical tone. It conveys the characters’ desires and ambitions, foreshadowing the conflicts and
choices that will drive the story. The song also reflects the rigid and conformist social structures in the
Victorian era.
The film uses music as a vehicle for emotional expression, reflecting the inner states of its characters.
Victor's nervous piano-playing conveys his uncertainty and anxiety, while Emily's haunting melodies
mirror her complex emotions as the Corpse Bride caught between life and death. The piano keys
represent the division between light and dark which are united through Victor and Emily.
Music also serves as a bridge, connecting the living and the dead. Victor and Emily bond through a
poignant piano duet, symbolizing their connection despite their differing realms. Furthermore, the
contrasting musical styles of the Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead emphasize the differences
between these worlds, adding depth to the film's atmosphere.
Ultimately, music in "Corpse Bride" reinforces the film's themes of love's ability to transcend death, the
transformative power of emotions, and the profound connection between life and the afterlife. It
enhances the emotional resonance of the story, making it an integral and evocative motif throughout the
film.
Barkis Bittern (the villain)
Collusion – two shots
What are the shot
types? How are
shadows and light used
to create an effect?
Crows - 38min
In "Corpse Bride," crows are a gothic element used symbolically to
represent death, the supernatural, and the transition between the
Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead. When Victor accidentally
proposes to Emily by placing the engagement ring on what he thinks
is a tree root but is actually Emily's skeletal finger, a murder of crows
descends, signaling the supernatural event and the connection
between the two realms. Emily, the Corpse Bride herself, has a close
connection to crows. She can summon them and communicate with
them, emphasizing her unique position as a character who straddles
the worlds of the living and the dead.
What type of shot is this?
How is the theme of power and control
shown in this scene? 11m
How is anxiety shown in this scene? 27m
Dutch angle shots + colour
How does this scene show connection 50m?
How does this scene show the rigid and
conforming Victorian era? 6:45
Portraits as symbols
How does this scene (1.10) show freedom?
How is freedom shown in this scene? How
does it compare with the beginning?
“You set me free. Now I can do the same.”
• How is
nonconformity
and a and rigid
Victorian society
shown in this
scene? (7:40)
What does the
flower represent?
How is love
‘blossoming’?
Quotes
1. “Marriage is a partnership, a little tit for tat.” –
Maudeline Everglot
2. What if Victor and I don’t like each other?” –
Victoria Everglot
3. “As if that has anything to do with marriage. Do you
suppose your father and I like each other?” – Maudeline
Everglot
4. “Everything will go as planned—she will marry.” –
Finis Everglot
5. “Hit it, boys. Hey! Give me a listen, you corpses of cheer,/Least those of you who still
got an ear./I'll tell you a story make a skeleton cry/Of our own jubiliciously lovely corpse
bride!“ Bonejangles
6. Wait. I made a promise. – Victor (honour)
7. I was a bride. My dreams were taken from me. But now - now I've stolen them from
someone else. I love you, Victor, but you are not mine.
Irony
• The land of the living is dull and
drab and strict and hierarchical.
• The land of the dead is colourful
and lively and not ruled by a class
system, there is equality.
• What is the message?