Analysis of the Film “the Graduate”
Film Title: THE GRADUATE
Director: Mike Nichols
Producer Lawrence Turman
Director of photography Robert Surtees Writers Calder Willingham, Buck Henry, Charles Webb
Editor Sam O'Steen
Soundtrack Composers Simon & Garfunkel
Lead Performers Braddock Benjamin, - Dustin Hoffman Anne Bancroft –Mrs. Robinson Elaine -Katharine Ross
Introduction
The “Graduate” is a 1967 classic movie starring Dustin Hoffman as Old Benjamin and Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson. The core focus of the movie is on a recently graduated boy who is warding through the practical life of love outside college. The film makes it apparent that love has the power to liberate someone as depicted in Benjamin’s love affair with Mrs. Robinson. While Benjam feels confined while in his parents’ home, he feels liberated by the Romance and affection accorded to him by his lover.
Development
In the film, “The Graduate”, the director has employed various cinematic elements in a way that reinforces the core theme of love. The costume designing has made an impression and reinforced the theme of love throughout the film. Mrs. Robinson is depicted in the film as wearing sexy dresses which are typically suggestive of lacy lingerie. The character's signature panty hose and apparel with animal-print patterns makes her to look brilliant.
On the contrary, Elaine who is the daughter of Mrs. Robinson has a line shift, fresh-faced dressing which makes her young and sexy too. Camera shots are quite critical as they shape the meaning and theme of the movie. The role of camera shots is to highlight different perspectives of a movie’s theme, characters and setting. Similarly, Mike Nichols has employed different camera shots to either show expressions or emotions of the characters, as well as the contact/closeness of the main characters. For example, a full shot is used in showing the image of Benjamin looking at the leg of Mrs. Robinson in an admiring manner. However, although the image stresses across the frame, Anne Bancroft’s actual leg is not featured. In other words, they will be able to deduce what Benjamin is up to.
There is also a wide use of a mid-short in specific scenes. This shot which contains the character’s waist up makes it possible for the viewer to see the faces of thecharacter in a clearer manner. Consequently, a viewer is able to perceive the inner emotions of Ben towards Mrs. Robinson and vice versa.
Camera angles are critically important in positioning the viewer in a way they can be able to comprehend how the characters relate with one another. This has been quite apparent in the film; “the Graduate” where an eye-level-angle is extensively utilized. Consequently, this angle allows the audience to feel comfortable with theactors. Some of the scenes where this angle is showcased where Benjamin looks at the leg of Mrs. Robinson and when the characters are intimate with one another.
The whole movie is objective in respect to time/space. For instance, in this film, two Calirfornia settings are shown simultaneously: Berkeley and Los Angeles to point out the differences in life and culture and their impact on individuals. This feature is also shown in the main character that despite being 29 is playing as a 21 old boy in the film.
It is quite clear that the “The Graduate” has simultaneously subverted and at the same time employed the genre of heritage film. Despite the movie using elite images, extensive use of mise-en-scene, high level of costumes, and lighting in constructing a spectacular present and future, it has been able to create a surrealist setting that emphasized on the theme of love and liberation.
Accordingly, the movie has showcased the possibility of establishing diverse mobilities or immobility even in the context of heritage spaces. The film insists on confinement and immobility by focusing on the theme of love and liberation. Despite this, there is an articulation of exilic spaces and identified without necessarily reproducing the victimhood discourse. In other words, there is no victim character in this film.
Conclusion
It is apparent that the film, “The Graduate” is constructed in a considered, careful manner. The author has been careful in employing the cinematic elements to ensure that all the features used align with the core theme of the film. For example, the use of the sexy dressing for Mrs. Robinson and Eleane has helped to reinforce the subject of love and seduction in the movie. On the other hand, specific camera angles have been used to make it easy for the audience to relate with thecharacters in terms of emotions and actions relayed. The intent of the author is to make it possible for the audience to follow up what is going on in the movie not only in the physical aspects but in the emotional aspects as well.
Work Cited Nichols Mike. “The Graduate” 1967
