Royal Tenenbaums Essay

Royal Tenenbaums is a 2001 film by West Anderson, one scene that stands apart from the rest is Richie Tenenbaum’s suicide attempt. Anderson makes many deliberate choices in the scene that sets it apart from the rest of the film and also marks a changing point in the film. Anderson uses music, jump cuts, costume and emotion to get the viewer to connect to Richie and his situation.

Richie having just found out his adopted sister Margate Tenenbaum- whom he is in love with- has been having many unknown affairs over the years. This sends him over the edge and is the final straw that leads to his suicide attempt. Richie closes the bathroom door and the scene opens up with a close up centered shot of his face. Immediately the shift in feeling is apparent through Andersons choice of lighting. The rest of Royal Tenenbaum’s is a soft yellow light but visually
Needle in the Haystack continues to play and no other sound is heard. ( like the sound of the scissors cutting his hair) Needle in the Haystack is a slow and sad song, with just Smith’s voice and a guitar. lyrics such as “He’s acting dumb, That’s what you've come to expect” begin to set the vibe of the scene. He then moves the scissors down to his beard and begins to cut it as well. As steam in the background rises and adds to the eery situation. He continues to cut away at his hair and beard through a series of fast one angle jump cuts. The cuts are clearly purposefully jumpy and not seamless. These jump cuts are a very unique and deliberate choice of Anderson’s. In the DVD commentary Anderson says “I dont think there is any other point in the movie that is done this way.” This helps to establish time passing and gives the viewer insight into this mind. That although he is very calmly and deliberately cutting his hair, that he might not be as calm on the