In Gravity, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki’s use of cinematography, mise-en-scène, and editing all work together to reveal the overall theme of the film, resilience. There are many long takes in this film, which allow the viewers to feel as if they are physically “in” the scene and actually in space with the astronauts. For example, the opening shot of the film consists of an approximately thirteen minute long take, in order to set the scene of the film by introducing the audience to the environment. This long take first acts as an establishment shot of Earth, prior to the spaceship entering the frame. It also introduces the viewers to the astronauts in space, as well as to the conflict of the debris damaging the spaceship, which further progresses the plot. Following this opening long shot, the second shot portrays the POV of Dr. Stone, who is drifting further into space due to the spaceship’s damage. In the POV shot, Stone is attempting to clutch onto the rope, which symbolizes her hope for survival. The POV enables the audience to connect with Stone and perhaps even feel as if they are in her shoes. Additionally, the camera does not stop moving and appears to be rotating around the characters, enabling the viewers to feel like the characters are actually the ones moving.
In terms of mise-en-scène in the film, the coloring in space is dark, but when Earth is in the frame, more vivid colors are present in order to symbolize the “hope” that the characters will make it to Earth. The more into space the characters are the darker the coloring is, representing their reduced chance for survival.
The final scene of the film differs from the rest of the movie. When Dr. Stone reaches Earth, she crawls from the water to the ground and then slowly stands up. The camera is tilted, and the ground is in the frame for most of the clip. The shots are at a low angle, zoning in on her feet as she takes her first steps on Earth. This emphasizes her resilience despite all the struggles that she encountered. Also, the coloring in this scene is vivid. This clip introduces earthy colors, such as brown and green, into the film, whereas earlier, it was mostly black and white.
I really like how you discuss the color throughout the film and its influence on the storyline. Every time that we would get a glimpse of Earth in the background of shots, its color was breathtaking, mostly because it contrasted so much with the dark shots we were used to seeing throughout the film. Color felt like it represented home throughout the movie, since the only glimpses of color we would really get were 1) of earth from afar or 2) once Dr. Stone got back to earth. The darkness of space represented fear and isolation, but as you mentioned, when we saw earth, its colors offered a sense of hope. Because we mainly saw black and white throughout the movie, when color would show up it STUCK OUT, which I really liked.
Cuarón’s use of cinematography, mise-en scene, and editing all contribute to creating a tense environment for the viewers. The first long opening shot of the film beautifully conveys how terrifying and stressful the characters’ situation is. Your thoughts on the use of color in the film intrigue me. Now that I think about it, the absence of color in the film keeps viewers on the edge of their seat, hoping for the characters’ survival. The colors may be a representation of Dr. Stone’s mind, where she is at first terrified and desperately fighting for her life, but then when she reaches Earth and feels safe, the colors pour onto the screen, representing her survival and escape from her situation in space.
Your insights into “Gravity” highlight some crucial elements that truly resonate with me. The use of long takes, such as the captivating opening shot, indeed immerses the audience deeply into the film’s world, creating a palpable sense of presence in space. It’s a testament to the power of cinematic techniques to transport viewers into the heart of the narrative. Additionally, the clever use of color to symbolize hope and despair is a brilliant artistic choice. It not only visually represents the characters’ emotional states but also serves as a subtle storytelling device, allowing the audience to connect with the characters on a more profound level. The final scene’s focus on Dr. Stone’s journey from crawling out of the water to standing on Earth’s solid ground is a powerful visual metaphor for resilience. It is my personal favorite scene because it is so different from the rest of the film. The contrast of colors was so big and the music also added something more for me.