'How does the director of Peaky
Blinders use camera angles and mise en scene to establish expectation and
character?
This is a usual camera angle which shows the ‘Peaky
Blinders’ gang in a reflection, upside down. This shot is quite disorientating
which creates an unnerving feel to the shot. The shot instantly tells the
viewer that the group is not just a group of ordinary men and that there is
something different about them. The organisation of the men is significant as
instead of being structured and in a formation there seems to be no order. This
could mirror the idea of the men are bring disorder to a neutral environment. In
the centre of the shot there is a strip of blue sky that eventually as the
group move forward they block, taking the natural light source out of the shot.
This is symbolic of the peace and neutral atmosphere being disrupted because of
the men. The scene become much darker after the natural light is blocked, which
strengthens the point of the only light in this scene was blocked by the men.
This shot uses an unusual camera angle to portray the group
as upside down. This immediately signifies that the members of the
group are not just ordinary men going to work- there is something different or
special about them. In the middle of the shot there is a strip of clear blue
sky that eventually the group block. This is symbolic of the peace
and neutral atmosphere being disrupted stopped because of the men. After
this shot, the lighting in all the scenes is dark and therefore the fact that
the only light in this scene is blocked by the men strengthens this point.
The organisation of the group of men is significant as instead of
being structured and ordered there seems to be no formation the men
are walking in. This relates to the point that the men are bringing some kind
of disorder to a neutral environment but also implies a gang
like culture upon the men and therefore gives the audience the expectation
that they are a violent and powerful group.
In this image, only the reflection of the men can be seen.
This gives the scene a more elusive feel and connotate ideas of darkness and
mystery in that all that can be seen is dark silhouettes and part of their
surroundings. Again, the dark costumes, which make this scene more mysterious
and illusive, are a huge part of the connotations that come with these pictures,
which again, highlight mystery and danger. This type of shot is creative and
helps to make the idea of mystery and power more prominent. The dark clothes
with the dark surroundings entice the reader into finding out more about the
characters, their surroundings and why the director has shot these frames in the
way they have been.
