“Mise-en-Scène”
When we look at this term for the first time, we can notice that it doesn’t quite seem like an English word.
In fact, “Mise-en-Scène” is a French word that means “putting in place.”
In film terms, we can think of it as “an intentional composition of elements to deliver the scene to viewers.”

Scene from <Citizen Kane>, by Orson Welles, 1941

This scene from the movie <Citizen Kane> by Orson Welles is a perfect example of a complete Mise-en-Scène. In this scene, we can notice an empty glass with a spoon, drugs, a woman lying in bed, and two men rushing into the room. Even without context, we can assume what has happened by taking the placement of the objects and actors into account.

However, for Mise-en-Scène to show its full potential, there are some elements that have to be considered.

The setting provides a very prominent role in Mise-en-Scène.
Settings can be anywhere-from physical places like Atlanta or Seoul, to non-physical or imaginary places such as made-up planets and insides of video games.

Scene from <Ready Player One>

<Ready Player One> by Steven Spielberg has one of the most diverse settings among present-day movies, ranging from physical to non-physical settings. The protagonist Wade Watts lives in both the real world and the virtual world in a VR game named the “Oasis,” where the game itself also consists of countless planets the player can live on. Throughout the movie, Wade Watts encounters threats and conflicts that are connected to both the virtual and the real world. This kind of unique setting adds to the cyberpunk accent and suspense of the film.

However, as Andre Bazin(a French film critic) wrote, “The drama on the screen can exist without actors.” Setting does more than just provide a space for the characters and their actions. Settings serve deeper roles, from introducing the story to showing characterization or themes and mood.

Scene from <Mad Max : Fury Road>

In <Mad Max : Fury Road>, directed by George Miller, the setting gives life to the characters and their actions in the movie. As we can notice in the picture, the film takes place in a vast and barren yet serene desert with no signs of life whatsoever. The desert itself looks as if time has stopped. However, the characters are constantly moving at high speeds in cars and trucks because they are always either in pursuit of or fleeing from each other. The setting and the characters give a distinct contrast, emphasizing the urgency of the characters and establishing the theme of “survival” and “vengeance.” Moreover, the somewhat vibrant yellow of the desert also shows a contrast with the drab colors of the characters and their vehicles, indirectly showing how the characters are striving to find a better life even in the worst of situations.

David Bordwell, co-author of <Film Art : An Introduction>, also notes that since the earliest ages of cinema people have understood that the setting plays a much more active role in cinema than in theaters. He points out that settings can “dynamically enter the narrative action.” He also examines how the overall color tone of a setting can briefly explain a character’s personality or mental state.

The reading, in the end, left me with a question. Though the most important component of Mise-en-Scène depends on what the director is trying to focus on, the setting has a unchanging role of introduction. Then, which would be more efficient in introducing the film? Will it be a monologue or dialogue of the actors, or will it be a sweeping shot of the landscape / city where the film will take place?