Film Analysis: A Single Man

A Single Man is a 2009 film based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood and it was directed by fashion designer Tom Ford as his directorial debut. Taking place over the course of a single day, November 30, 1962, a month after the Cuban missile crisis, A Single Man is the story of George Falconer, a middle-aged English college professor living in Los Angeles. He explains after he wakes up from a dream about his partner, who died 8 months earlier, that he would take his life in the evening of that day. This a neo-film since it is created in 2009 to look like a 60s film because of this it creates a very nostalgic atmosphere. Our culture today tends to really romanticize the past which you really see in neo work and this film.
These detail shots are shown throughout the film and show the little things in George’s life that make him happy.
Another artistic choice in this clip that greatly displays how George feels is the score. It is mostly violin which creates an interesting effect to how the audience interprets it becuase violin is the closest instrument to the human voice making it very emotional and personal. Throughout the clip the track called “George’s Waltz” plays it is a very sad, tedious, melancholy, and in a way up lifting. Also in the background of the song there is a clock ticking which creates a sort of a countdown for George’s life. The score perfectly harmonizes with the visuals and creates George’s mind and world.
The clip heavily relies on the colors and score to reach the audience and let them into George. The artistic choices represent and help move along the message and literal meaning of the clip. These are just a few examples of how filmmakers use techniques in film to create a believable and relatable world for the