FAMILY
SCENE
MISE-EN-SCENE
CINEMATOGRAPHY
POSTPRODUCTION
(1st time we see the
Amitrano family
together.)
Character
-Michele doubles Maria on bike (role of protector)
-Throws bike down- Runs inside
-In contrast to attitude towards Anna (Take for granted)
-Michele first born- first up stairs (symbolic placing)
-Colour symbolism- link of red shirt to truck
- Pink rubber gloves (traditional female)
- Pino is absent – traditional role- brings home the bacon etc (has free reign, not his gender role to be responsible for
the children)
- Anna concerned about glasses and money- Pino hushes her, she then retreats back into shadows
- Symbolism- Apron- At moment of Anna’s attempt at assertion she tries to take apron off but reties
- Pino restraining gesture stops Anna
-(Glasses) Anna blames Michele for the glasses (responsibility)
- Anna cooking- chopping vigorously- channelling repressed rage?
- Pino at every instance exerts authority and is controlling (makes Michele arm wrestle for gondola and takes it back)
- Pino focuses on Michele, ignores Maria when she asks about present
Camera
-Long shot showing Michele doubling
Maria, take in idea of him as protector.
-Close up-elated expression reinforces
dialogue “Dad’s here!”
-Long shot-establishing shot of the house,
reinforces excitement-see both running,
Michele first. Also to see colour linking
father+son.
- Close up Pino embracing Michele.
-Mid shot-see Pino, Michele and Maria in
frame together for first time. Maria on
lower level, reinforces gender roles
dialogue. Contrast between son and
daughter.
-Mid shot of Michele by himself talking
about his playing(active games where
Maria picked up like a doll and moved
around passively)
-Mid shot in Pino’s arms like a “doll”
Subtitles
The Amitrano’s
exemplify a
traditional
patriarchal gender
dynamic which
prioritises male
over female and is
clearly hierarchical.
Gender role
stereotypes
characterise each
family member.
Other examples
include:
- Barbara’s
humiliation in
exposition
(sexualised)
- Attempted rape of
Anna (Felice and
Skull being
brothers illustrates
inter-generational
attitudes,
socialisation).
Men-Active
Women-Passive
Light- Outshone
by males
Dark-In males
shadow
Props/Costume
Anna: Apron, cooking/cleaning utensils, clean dishes (assoc with)
Pino: Gondola (shows control), Cigarette holder a phallic symbol (extension of cigarette, angled upwards at moments
of confidence (explaining drawing matches), drops down when doesn’t go his way (moment he loses draw).
Michele: Red shirt links him to father
Pino is wearing white and Anna is wearing black which makes her blend in with the shadows(light and dark
symbolism)
Dialogue
-excited “Dad’s here!” – elated (Dad absent)
“You’re heavy”- (Macho- manly- growing up)
“Daddy’s little doll, give me a kiss” (Role of girls as little dolls) (gender stereotyping e.g. dolls are inanimate, pretty,
practice for child -rearing)
Pino undermines Anna, changes subject “Did you do your press ups?” – Macho socialisation
- arm wrestle- competitive (winner and loser)
-“if you don’t beat me, no present”
- “Are your muscles made of butter” “You’re a sissy”
-emasculating (telling a man they are a vagina)
Composition
-Mum (Anna) established apart from family cooking some eggs
1. Background- shadows
2. Back to us- Pino in centre
3. Standing- cleaning
- Maria is relegated to background shadows, her face is blocked by male fists- they’re united, she’s excluded
Setting
-Clean Kitchen- Domesticity, orderliness.
- Pots in order of size etc, pink gloves (colour symbolism)
Lighting
-Anna in shadows when 1st see her, rest
of family frontally lit (coming from
Michele’s direction/window-show focus
not on Mum, is inferior.
-Anna walks into light @ moment of her
attempt to assert herself, then scuttles
back to shadow at Pino’s dominance.
Arm Wrestling moment
Lighting: Maria in shadow of malesliterally, face obscured by shadow made
my male arms, figuratively in “their
shadow/outshone.” (like Anna)
Camera: Close up if Micheles distressed
face as Pino emasculates him “you’re
sissy.”s
Low angle looking up to Pino.
Higher angle looking down at Michele.
Convey the info.
Non-diegetic sound
-Strings(timbre = bright and
harmonious).
-Happy to see dad, the music
mimics their happiness. Mum’s
nagging and ineffectual.
- Notes rise sequential and
repetitive,
uplifting/soothing/wafting.
-Music stops when the word
Papa is spoken my Michele.
Music competed with Anna’s
words but stops for Pino’s
speech because he is more
important.
-When the gondola is given to
the children there is twinkly,
magical and sparkly
music(jewellery box sound) –
stops when Pino picks it up.
Editing
Long takes of family, cuts to
Michele( isolates him)