A_3820_Julie Yoo_Chungking EXpress
Scene Analysis
(Chunking Express )
重庆森林
3820_Julie Ji young Yoo
Digital Film A_ Dr. Dray
Assessment 1_Scene Analysis
Chungking Express (1994)
Credits
Directed by Wong Kar-wai
Produced by Chan Yi-kan
Written by Wong Kar-wai
Starring Brigitte Lin,
Tony Leung Chiu Wai
Faye Wong
Takeshi Kaneshiro
Valerie Chow
Music by Frankie Chan Roel. A Garcia
Cinematography Christopher Doyle, Wai-keung Lau (Andrew Lau)
Editing by William Chang,Kit-wai Kai,Chi-Leung Kwong
Running time 102 min. (US) 98 min. (HK)
Language Cantonese, Mandarin, English
Preceded by Ashes of Time (1994)
Followed by Fallen Angels (1995)
Narrative
Chungking Express tells two stories connected by a takeaway shop called Midnight Express. In one story, officer 233, a cop who's been recently dumped by his girlfriend and has hope that she will take him back before May 1, his 25th birthday.
He has been obsessed with the expiration dates; May 1, on cans of pineapple. He tries to turn his attention and he is looking for his new girlfriend. He would fall in love with the first person enters the bars.
In the meantime, officer 663, another cop who's recently been dumped by his girlfriend as well. He has been depressed, talking to his sponge, soap, doll and her shirt. He thinks the domain objects looks like him. One day, He catches the eye of a shop girl who listens to the music louder at ‘Midnight Express’. She has a secret crush on him gradually. His girlfriend leaves a letter; saying goodbye with his mansion key. She secretly breaks into the officer 633’s mansion and cleans there with making sure the music is loud enough so she can not think. After he meets her at his place and goes to the shop. He asks out her for a date. But they do not meet on that day. They meet at there after 1 year.
According to Wikipedia, The Chinese title translates to "Chungking Jungle", referring to the metaphoric concrete jungle of the city, as well as to Chungking Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui, where much of the first part of the movie is set. The English title refers to Chungking Mansions and the Midnight Express food stall where Faye works.
Assessment 1: Scene Analysis
1. Scene overview (Duration 00:21:01~00:22:05)
In this scene, officer 233 is opening and eating the cans of pineapples. At the first part shows a can of pineapple which marked expire date is 1, May. He talks to himself. He talks to his dog to try pineapple but his dog rejects to eat. He thinks that the dogs can not share his sadness. He ate all 30 cans of pineapple this evening and he would love to go out on the town.
2. Analysis (Shot by Shot)
Descriptionà TechniqueàExplanation
1.1 Shot #1
Duration (00:21:01~00:21:10)
21:01~05
1 May 1994
1 May 1994, Expiration date of a can of pineapple which shows POV shot which shows his point of view of the date.
This looks like extreme close up shot but his personal view.
21:06~10
I finally found my 39th can.
He opens the first can of pineapple used POV shot as well same as above.
n MISE-EN-SCENE
•Setting: the table of officer 233’s house (Int) , dinning table.
Props: a can of pineapple
•Colour: Black back ground colour (Before opening the can) for concentrate the date.
n CINEMATOGRAPHY
•Shot types: POV shot in his personal view.
•Depth: Shallow Focus which shows back ground color shallow for the concentration of the date, 1 may.
•Camera movement: stable
n EDITING
•Long take (21:01~10)It goes over more than 9 minutes.
1.2 Shot #2
Duration (21:10~43)
21:10~13
à 
As May 1 begins, realization dawns.
Panning
In the beginning, this scene shows a goldfish basin with goldfish and go to officer 233’s medium shot. This is Panning for focus on his seeing it and his view the his inside view matched his situation.
21:14~16
As in May’s eyes…
He shakes his head and seems to is afflicted at his situation used medium shot for his movement and inside view with gold fish matched him.
21:16~26
I’m no different of a can of pineapple.
He drinks slurp down the can of pineapple.
Medium shot with gold fish.
21:27~37
He picks up a can of pineapple again and repeats this action.
Which used panning and medium shot and back used depth of field on shallow focus on his action which repeats the other can of pineapple is finished.
21:38~43
He sprinkles pepper into the can of pineapple and seems constraint.
Panning and shallow focus in the back ground with a dog in this part.(Blur)
n MISE-EN-SCENE
•Setting: the table of officer 233’s house (Int)
Props: a goldfish basin with goldfish with some goldfish, 30 cans of pineapple, a dog, a fork , a pepper
•Colour: Dark (Front side-table), Light (Back side-kitchen)
•Actor performance: Explains above.
•Sound: Bubble of the basin
•Costume : shirt with necktie
n CINEMATOGRAPHY
•Shot types: Medium shot
•Depth: Shallow Focus which shows back ground color behind him.
•Camera movement: Panning (21:10~13)
n EDITING
•Long take (21:10~43)
It goes over more than 9 minutes.
1.3 Shot #3
21:44~48
This shot separate shot 2 because of the time is changed. The empty cans of pineapple shows blur used Landscape focus.
21:49~51
Come on, try it!
21:52~55
Everyone says dogs are a man’s best friend.
21:56~22:04
So how come mine won’t share my grief?
He suggests his dog to eat pineapple but the dog rejects and he stokes and hugs his dog and put down the ground.
Landscape Focus used for focus on them and cans of pineapple shows blur.
22:05~10~20
He sit down the table and moves to the kitchen.
It changed shot type into the long shot. According to dr. Dray’s lecture note in AIT College,Frames a person from head to toe and much of the surroundings; Frequently used for an entrance, exit or “walk and talk” (following a character).
22:20~24
This must be some kind of record.
He is eating the last can of pineapple.
22:25~27
I ate all 30 cans this evening.
He put some sauce into it.
22:28~30
Just as well May wasn’t into garlic.
He whips the sauce in the can.
22:31~32
I’d just love to go out on the town now.
He seems to get satisfaction in his face.
22:33~34
May’ll be bed in now.
n MISE-EN-SCENE
•Setting: the kitchen chair of officer 233’s house (Int)
The last can of pineapple, a fork , a pepper, a sauce, chair
•Colour: Dark (Front side-table), Light (Back side-kitchen)
•Actor performance: He
•Sound: NO
•Costume : shirt with necktie
n CINEMATOGRAPHY
•Shot types: Medium shot(21:44~22:06)
•Depth: Shallow Focus which shows back ground color behind him.
Landscape Focus (21:44~22:07)
•Camera movement: Panning (21:10~13)
n EDITING
•Long take (21:44~22:34)
1.4 Shot #4
22:35~36
May’ll be int bed now.
Close up and Panning (From Goldfish to the empty cans of pineapple)
22:37~39
But what about that other May?
The other girl who works at the midnight express.
22:40~43
The empty cans of pineapple.
Close up and Zoom in used.
According to Intro Cinema Lecture note,” Zoom In: In zooming in the camera does not move; the lens is focussed down from a long-shot to a close-up whilst the picture is still being shown.”
n MISE-EN-SCENE
•Setting: the kitchen chair of officer 233’s house (Int),
•Props: Dinning table with basin and gildfish.The empty cans of pineapple,
•Colour: Dark (Front side-table), Light (Back side-kitchen)
•Actor performance: Explains above.
•Costume : shirt with necktie
•Sound: Bubble of the basin
CINEMATOGRAPHY
•Shot types: Close up Shot(22:35~22:43)
•Depth: Shallow Focus which shows back ground color blur for the concentration of the empty cans of the pineapple. The dog cannot see clearly.
•Camera movement: Panning (22:35~36)
n EDITING
•Long take (22:35~22:43)
3. Deconstructed Meaning
His girlfriend‘s name is May same as the month of the May. The day is very important day along with the date is the day of saying good bye after 1month and also his birthday.
He bought 30 cans of pineapple everyday for waiting May might come back to him. He seems suffering from his sadness. In my view in this scene, which shows very impact of the first story.Officer 223 open the first can of pineapple. 1 May 1994, Expiration date of a can of pineapple which shows POV shot which shows his point of view of the date.
This looks like extreme close up shot but his personal view. In the beginning, this scene shows a goldfish basin with goldfish and go to officer 233’s medium shot. This is Panning for focus on his seeing it and his view the his inside view matched his situation. He and gold fish are locked in something. I think that shows obsession. He wants to believe his girlfriend come back and deny his situation with collecting cans of the pineapple which is her favourite. Goldfish got the obsession for escaping the basin and want to believe the basin is only their thought same as him. So camera movement used panning from the basin to him.
The last part is Close up to Zooming in… According to Intro Cinema Lecture note,” Zoom In: In zooming in the camera does not move; the lens is focussed down from a long-shot to a close-up whilst the picture is still being shown.” Which means the director focus on to objects and emphasis on it.
4. Bibliography
Amazone.com
Film School
http://observealot.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/film-school-chungking-express/
Wikipedia
http://enc.daum.net/dic100/contents.do?query1=20XX213471
IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109424/
Currently have 0 comments: