Mise-en-scene
Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola, 2006).
In this scene, the protagonist is clearly portrayed in a state of distress at the beginning, before transitioning to the binary opposite of this, being Marie Antoinette smiling with her friends deciding on materials and shoes. The mise-en-scene has been used effectively by Sofia Coppola to convey the experience of the protagonist. The use of a pale yellow and pink costume portrays the character as stereotypically feminine as the colors are decoded by the audience to be seen on a female. This is especially important as it is reflecting the social views of the time and how women were viewed in society.
Marie Antoinette closes the door behind her and immediately begins to cry. This action of slamming the door by the character represents the feeling of being trapped and separated from society as the door is literally in between her and the rest of the characters. Perhaps she is tired of conforming to the stereotypes of a woman in the 18th century, especially as she has such a high status and appearance to keep up. The other characters that have been shown as the beginning of the scene are properly dressed and walking formally. Marie Antoinette is clearly trying not to cry in order to maintain the strong figure of the Queen.
I noticed in the shot of the protagonist kneeling on the floor crying, there is a small statue of a lone angel in the same position looking isolated. This prop has been used to reflect the feelings of the protagonist. This is also effective in conveying the experiences of the protagonist because we connote a small statue with delicacy and vulnerability. This is showing the audience that Marie Antoinette is easily hurt, perhaps because of her young age and the stressful position she has been put in.
In the scene where Marie Antoinette is in despair, the setting is highly contrasting with complex pattern and natural light. This overwhelming setting and detail reflects Marie Antoinette’s distress, and how insignificant she is compared to the large room with all its complex decoration. It also portrays the time and place that the film is set, allowing the audience to understand more of why the protagonist is upset, as she is a young girl conforming to the standards of the high pressured society.
The shoes that have been shown in the high paced scene of Marie Antoinette and friends, connote wealth and sophistication. These traits were common of high class people at the time, so Marie Antoinette would have been associated with these things. The colours of the shoes are more pastel and light colours, reflecting the protagonist’s youth and childlike nature. The converse trainers have been used carefully by Sofia Coppola to act as a metaphor for the protagonist in a high-status and stressful position. The audience would see these trainers and decode traits of youth and popularity, therefore linking Marie Antoinette to the trainers as she is just a teenager trying to fit into the pressures of society.