« Moving Gestures | Main | Persepolis »
October 13, 2005
The Sound of Music
Ever since we were forced to pick apart Crash, I feel as though I analyze ever movie, every television show I watch. I was flipping through some of the scenes in The Sound of Music, the other day, and I stopped at one of my favorite parts, when Captain Von Trapp and Maria are dancing the Liander (certain Austrian or folk dance, I believe) on the terrace. At one point, they stop and Maria's face is titled towards the Captain's. Maria begins to say that she has forgotten the dance steps and cannot continue. She knows, in her heart, that something has changed between the two of them. She doubts her vow to God. You can see that all in her face, right at that very momemt, and in the background, a statue peaks out behind her head. Immediately, I halted the movie and focused on that statue. Carved out of stone is a naked woman, vulnerable and yet holy, almost in a stance in which the Virgin Mary would be sculpted. I put two and two together and realized that this vulnerable woman is a symbol of Maria. Maria is confused and helpless and, even so, she has this divine glow because of her love for God. This scene is similar to when Sandra Bullock asks her husband to have the locks changed again. While she is screaming, you cannot help but notice the picture of the naked woman, vulnerable, cold, and scared, in the background. It is very interesting that a naked woman can be used in two movies to prodcue drastically different effects. **If you ever have The Sound of Music, just take a glance at it. -Christina
Posted by lcisgancarz at October 13, 2005 09:35 AM
Comments
That is so interesting Christina! I am probably going to do my essay on the decor in the homes of all the characters, the Persian store, the police station, etc., but I had never thought of that painting behind Sandra Bullock in the way you did! Excellent interpretation!!
Posted by: Brenna at October 13, 2005 01:12 PM
Thank you Christina! I had been looking and looking at that painting and trying to figure out what it meant...it is so obviously there...and you nailed it...it makes apparent Bullock's character's vulnerability...
phew!
Posted by: Ellen Grabiner at October 15, 2005 03:48 PM