Language Techniques In The Help And Directed By Tate Taylor
The Help, written and directed by Tate Taylor, is a film based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Kathryn Stockett. This film demonstrates a wide range of film language techniques that all contribute to help convey the overall messages and themes found in the film. In this scene, protagonist Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan is being told by her mother the truth about the disappearance of the maid that has raised her her whole life. Motherhood and racism are the two most important themes expressed in this scene. These ideas will be backed up with a range of film language techniques that helped to emphasise these themes.
Taylor uses an over-the-shoulder shot to help show the relationship between Skeeter and her mother, Charlotte. Skeeter is sitting …show more content…
In this scene, Constantine is being made to serve some guests Charlotte is entertaining. She is standing up while the guests are sitting down expecting her to serve them, which shows how black people were regarded in society. Another film language technique used to show this theme was the low-angle shot when Rachel, Constantine’s daughter, arrived to see her mother. She is standing outside at the door, looking up at Charlotte. This particular shot makes Charlotte look imposing, superior, and almost as if in control of Rachel, which suggests the inferiority of black people. The door could also be symbolic of the separation of the races, which is another example of how the director used composition in this scene. In the early 1960s, schools, workplaces and public facilities enforced the segregation of white and black people. Blacks and whites were not to eat together either, but if they did, whites were to be served first and some sort of partition was to be placed between them. In contrast today, all laws enforcing the segregation of white and black people have been abolished. Black people are treated a lot fairer and more equal to whites, though unfortunately, racism still exists and the issues regarding total equality in society have not yet been fully
Taylor uses an over-the-shoulder shot to help show the relationship between Skeeter and her mother, Charlotte. Skeeter is sitting …show more content…
In this scene, Constantine is being made to serve some guests Charlotte is entertaining. She is standing up while the guests are sitting down expecting her to serve them, which shows how black people were regarded in society. Another film language technique used to show this theme was the low-angle shot when Rachel, Constantine’s daughter, arrived to see her mother. She is standing outside at the door, looking up at Charlotte. This particular shot makes Charlotte look imposing, superior, and almost as if in control of Rachel, which suggests the inferiority of black people. The door could also be symbolic of the separation of the races, which is another example of how the director used composition in this scene. In the early 1960s, schools, workplaces and public facilities enforced the segregation of white and black people. Blacks and whites were not to eat together either, but if they did, whites were to be served first and some sort of partition was to be placed between them. In contrast today, all laws enforcing the segregation of white and black people have been abolished. Black people are treated a lot fairer and more equal to whites, though unfortunately, racism still exists and the issues regarding total equality in society have not yet been fully