Project: Mise–en–Scène

Viewing: I have selected this scene from the film “Rum Diary” directed by Bruce Robinson starring Johnny Depp. Sanderson has taken Kemp to his luxury beach home for breakfast and introduces his girlfriend Chenault. The scene is a conversation between Kemp (a writer) and Sanderson (a property developer/crook) about the help he needs to form local opinion in favour of his plans to develop an uninhabited island. Unknown to Sanderson, Kemp has met Chenault before but she doesn’t seem keen to let Sanderson know that. Kemp is distracted by her as she prepares food and keeps looking towards him through the screen.

The scene is set from the moment the two men enter the beach house, is comprised of 19 shots and lasts just 1min 48sec.

The scene feels relaxed and luxurious in direct comparison to previous scenes in a busy newspaper office, bowling ally, airport and the following scenes of squalor and cock fighting in the poor districts of Puerto Rico. This is achieved by the setting, a modern, bright house set on a beach. The mise en scène has definitely played a part in this, everything has been selected to reinforce Sanderson's wealth. In the context of the narrative, Sanderson is prepared to use Kemp for his own ends. Also, Kemp is establishing a relationship with Chenault which is given meaning later in the story.

Frame 1	Frame 2
Frame 3	Frame 4
Frame 5	Frame 6
Frame 2	Frame 7
Frame 2	Frame 7
Frame 2	Frame 8
Frame 2	Frame 7
Frame 2	Frame 9
Frame 2	Frame 7
Frame 2

For ease of description I have labelled all of the frames above with the same numbers if they cover a similar area of the scene despite the lens focal length. (I find the almost interchangeable use of ‘shot’, ‘frame’, ‘scene’ confusing especially if a frame changes by zooming or panning the camera) I have answered the questions posed by the learning notes below.
Frame 1. A wide shot that establishes the luxurious interior of the beach house as the two men enter. (the previous scene is the car drive to the house and the walk to the front door). The meaning conveyed by the mise en scène is described above.
Frame 2. This wide shot framing is used to show  the two men’s progress through the house and is also the location of their conversation as a mid shot after the introduction of Chenault and the return to the inside of the house.
Frame 3. Another mid shot lines up the three characters ready for the introduction. Chenault moves in from the right of the frame to greet Sanderson.
Frames 4 and 5 medium close up, show the flicker of recognition between Kemp and Chenault as they are introduced.
Frame 6. Mid shot as Kemp explains to Sanderson that he may recognise Chenault from the plane while she denies that they have met. (they actually met when he was paddling a pedalo and she was swimming at night on the capital’s resort beach)
Frame 7. This is the scene to the right of the frame 2 where the conversation between the men  takes place. Chenault is shown behind the screen preparing fruit as Kemp is distracted by her while listening to Sanderson’s proposition. There are two mid shots and a medium close up where she is shown watching Kemp intently. This choice of mise en scène gives a conspiratorial feel to the as yet undeclared relationship .
Frame 8. This is an almost throw away shot of a bejewelled tortoise, again the mise en scène is used to reinforce Sanderson’s wealth.
Frame 9. This medium close up of Kemp is used in preparation to show his dialogue response to just how much Sanderson knows about him and to show that he keeps looking across to Chenault as she prepares the meal.