Strictly Ballroom Essay
Style and Technique
Throughout 'Strictly Ballroom' Baz Luhrman uses non-realistic, exaggerated techniques. Some such examples include:
• the red velvet curtain to open the film
• the mock documentary style of the opening sequence
• the use of the 'Blue Danube' waltz
• the contrast between the glamour of the ballroom and the lives of those involved in it.
Text analysis: Image
Strictly Ballroom can be interpreted in a variety of ways. It has been described as:
1. A musical comedy, with big production dance scenes and a plot similar to musical comedies in the 1930s and 1940s
2. A fairytale or fantasy like ‘Cinderella’ or ‘The Ugly Duckling’
3. a satire or parody of competitive ballroom dancing.
The key to understanding the film is that the film is a combination of all three of these approaches: it is a romantic musical comedy. …show more content…
The villains (Barry and his accomplice Charm) are defeated. The good guys (Scott and Fran) win. Even those who have been ‘wrong thinkers’ (Les and Liz Holt) are converted so that they are able to sympathise with the right people. Doug and Shirley are re-united. In a telling transformation, he ceases to be the comical hen-pecked husband and becomes the chivalric initiator of romance. The cultural divide between the Spanish ethnic characters and the anglo community is bridged (note – Rico and Liz, Ya Ya and Les dancing together) and everyone ends up having a good time. All of these satisfying resolutions are played out against the colourful background of the little drama backstage and the excitement of Scott and Fran’s dancing. Notice the slow motion, the tracking camera, the shtos of feet, of clapping, of masses of people on the floor, the music (Love is in the Air) and the final shot of the happy faces of Scott and Fran. All are absolutely in the grand of tradition of musicals, which classically end with the ultimate performance (in which the starts get to show their stuff and are rewarded for
Throughout 'Strictly Ballroom' Baz Luhrman uses non-realistic, exaggerated techniques. Some such examples include:
• the red velvet curtain to open the film
• the mock documentary style of the opening sequence
• the use of the 'Blue Danube' waltz
• the contrast between the glamour of the ballroom and the lives of those involved in it.
Text analysis: Image
Strictly Ballroom can be interpreted in a variety of ways. It has been described as:
1. A musical comedy, with big production dance scenes and a plot similar to musical comedies in the 1930s and 1940s
2. A fairytale or fantasy like ‘Cinderella’ or ‘The Ugly Duckling’
3. a satire or parody of competitive ballroom dancing.
The key to understanding the film is that the film is a combination of all three of these approaches: it is a romantic musical comedy. …show more content…
The villains (Barry and his accomplice Charm) are defeated. The good guys (Scott and Fran) win. Even those who have been ‘wrong thinkers’ (Les and Liz Holt) are converted so that they are able to sympathise with the right people. Doug and Shirley are re-united. In a telling transformation, he ceases to be the comical hen-pecked husband and becomes the chivalric initiator of romance. The cultural divide between the Spanish ethnic characters and the anglo community is bridged (note – Rico and Liz, Ya Ya and Les dancing together) and everyone ends up having a good time. All of these satisfying resolutions are played out against the colourful background of the little drama backstage and the excitement of Scott and Fran’s dancing. Notice the slow motion, the tracking camera, the shtos of feet, of clapping, of masses of people on the floor, the music (Love is in the Air) and the final shot of the happy faces of Scott and Fran. All are absolutely in the grand of tradition of musicals, which classically end with the ultimate performance (in which the starts get to show their stuff and are rewarded for