Have you ever sat through a conversation where no words were said?
Incredulous as it sounds, I believe that all of us have experienced it at one point or another. Take for instance, the dagger-like stares your mother gives when you walk in the door late. You probably might have responded with a sheepish smile.
Such instances like the one above are often short moments that complement verbal conversation (think: the reprimand that comes after). Thus, I find silent films and their ability to perfectly convey messages, rather fascinating.
In fact, I've taken quite a liking to the one below.
I especially like the whole backwards motion way of filming. It further highlights the difference of the couple. Of course, when the male first appeared, he was frowning. It shows how unhappy he was, the feeling of resignation further compounded by his slow gait. Also if you had noticed, the music started changing around the time that he laid his eyes on the female lead. His pause, and the intensity of his stare tells us that something has changed along with the music. As cheesy as it sounds, you start to feel.. hope. You could so tell that from then on, things would start on a happy note.
Another aspect that appealed to me was how each little action contributed to the allure of the film. Take for instance, his moment of confusion as the female lead slurped up her drink. Adding on to the intricacies was the slight tilt of his head and the hesitant step (literally) that he took to affirm his thoughts. I find it cute that he deliberated for a moment as he moved forward, seeking approval from the female lead and hoping that he did the right thing.
One very telling factor in the development of relations between the two would be the proxemics involved. From being a face in a crowd at a public distance to dancing together in an intimate distance, it shows how comfortable they are in sharing personal space.
Anyhow, did you realise the effect that music had in the film? I felt that the music was there for added emphasis, as it chronicled the significant events of the couple's relationship. Such as how it was slow at the start, and became more uplifting during the couple's interaction with each other. The music also added on to the despair felt when the female lead disappeared. In the end though, it veered towards a direction that was more fairy tale-like. In fact, it sounded a little like something from Disney. Well, to me at least. We may not notice it, but adding the right sounds and tunes to films bring it to a new level. Can you imagine a horror film without its suspense building music?
