I extracted an implicit meaning from this film by connecting the story's theme with a common theological principle: By not yielding to temptation, people can receive forgiveness for their sins by bringing forth works meet for repentancethus making them trustworthy again. From a historical context, there are specific elementsincluding the aesthetics and technological capabilitiesthat the director used to demonstrate this theme.
In the beginning of the film, the man is tempted by his mistress to drown his wife in a lake, sell his home, and move to the city to live with her. To show how strong these temptations were, the director used post-technology in several instances to communicate to the viewer the man's struggle: 1). When the man's mistress first presents the corrupt idea to kill his wife, the words on the screen, "DROWN HER" wash away in a watery-type fashion, 2). After the man has been tempted, he goes home and sits on his bed thinking about the proposition. While pondering upon the idea, the viewer sees a super-imposed vision of his mistress seducing him from behind. Her arms are first wrapped gently around his body, then the image dissolves and she reappears kneeling before him whispering into his ear. The man's body language seems to suggest that he's frustrated and not quite sure what to do. 3). By showing the superimposition and cross cuts between the lake and the man on the bed, the viewer sees inside the mind of the man and how he struggles with the decision. I was impressed by all of these special graphics the director chose, especially for a 1927 piece that had no reliance upon computers.
Two particular aesthetics that helped contribute to the film's theme were the production design and the music. Production Design: When the man and his wife first set sail out on the lake, a dog (visual/moving prop) escapes from its cage and begins barking and running wildly after them. It jumps into the lake and swims towards the boat. This is symbolic of an opportunity given to the man to change his courseprevent him from what he's about to do. Later in the story after the man has overcome the temptation but not gained the trust of his wife, several other visual props are used (i.e. man buying sandwiches and flowers for his wife) to suggest to the viewer that the man is trying to gain forgiveness by bringing forth works meet for repentance. Music: Right before the man decides to overcome the temptation to kill his wife out on the boat, the music is intensely gritty. The music accompanies the man's footsteps towards his wife in a cartoon-like fashion. Each step produces a dramatic crash of cymbals and violins. When he decides that he's not going to follow through with the plan, the music eases up by creating a calm melodythus allowing the viewer to relax again.
I learned something very insightful by watching this filmmore specifically, about silent films in general. Silent films discipline our ability to discern character motives/attitudes by teaching us to recognize and understand the subtext of a character's body language. They teach us how to strengthen our gift of discernment. This is demonstrated when the man and his wife are reminded of their marriage covenants during a newlywed ceremony. The man's body language of falling into the arms of his wife and crying and her willingness to embrace him suggests that the man has received forgiveness and trust again.
In the beginning of the film, the man is tempted by his mistress to drown his wife in a lake, sell his home, and move to the city to live with her. To show how strong these temptations were, the director used post-technology in several instances to communicate to the viewer the man's struggle: 1). When the man's mistress first presents the corrupt idea to kill his wife, the words on the screen, "DROWN HER" wash away in a watery-type fashion, 2). After the man has been tempted, he goes home and sits on his bed thinking about the proposition. While pondering upon the idea, the viewer sees a super-imposed vision of his mistress seducing him from behind. Her arms are first wrapped gently around his body, then the image dissolves and she reappears kneeling before him whispering into his ear. The man's body language seems to suggest that he's frustrated and not quite sure what to do. 3). By showing the superimposition and cross cuts between the lake and the man on the bed, the viewer sees inside the mind of the man and how he struggles with the decision. I was impressed by all of these special graphics the director chose, especially for a 1927 piece that had no reliance upon computers.
Two particular aesthetics that helped contribute to the film's theme were the production design and the music. Production Design: When the man and his wife first set sail out on the lake, a dog (visual/moving prop) escapes from its cage and begins barking and running wildly after them. It jumps into the lake and swims towards the boat. This is symbolic of an opportunity given to the man to change his courseprevent him from what he's about to do. Later in the story after the man has overcome the temptation but not gained the trust of his wife, several other visual props are used (i.e. man buying sandwiches and flowers for his wife) to suggest to the viewer that the man is trying to gain forgiveness by bringing forth works meet for repentance. Music: Right before the man decides to overcome the temptation to kill his wife out on the boat, the music is intensely gritty. The music accompanies the man's footsteps towards his wife in a cartoon-like fashion. Each step produces a dramatic crash of cymbals and violins. When he decides that he's not going to follow through with the plan, the music eases up by creating a calm melodythus allowing the viewer to relax again.
I learned something very insightful by watching this filmmore specifically, about silent films in general. Silent films discipline our ability to discern character motives/attitudes by teaching us to recognize and understand the subtext of a character's body language. They teach us how to strengthen our gift of discernment. This is demonstrated when the man and his wife are reminded of their marriage covenants during a newlywed ceremony. The man's body language of falling into the arms of his wife and crying and her willingness to embrace him suggests that the man has received forgiveness and trust again.
