Adam Bernstein's Fargo: a Movie Review

Mise-en-Scene in Fargo

Mise-en-scene is the framing arrangement of lighting, actors, décor, costume, and props, including the camerawork and frame. It is actually a French term meaning "placing on the stage." The film Fargo was based on a true story. According to the Coen brothers, who produced and directed the film, they wrote a fictional story around the actual criminal event. This means that the characterization was different, although the basic events were the same as the real events. Contrary to the opening graphics, the actual murder did not take place in Minnesota. The movie was filmed mainly in Minneapolis. The scenes which required landscape with snow were shot in North Dakota and Northern Minnesota.

Landscape and Isolation

The landscape setting of Minnesota symbolizes isolation, which the characters, especially Jerry, who is the main character, feel. The expansive, flat, and snow-covered setting in Fargo allows people to come into focus such that viewers can see the setting from all directions. The lack of other people or even cars points out how Jerry and the kidnappers feel very lonely and segregated from the rest of the world (Fargo (Film) - TV Tropes). This scene symbolizes loneliness and emptiness. The landscape not only emphasizes the isolation but also highlights the moral and emotional desolation faced by the characters.

Sound and Color Symbolism

Similarly, the use of non-diegetic music has an effect in the film. Diegetic films are more pronounced in the film such that the viewers can feel more closely connected with the spectators and the characters in the story. Diegetic sounds include the phone ringing and car sirens. In the whole film, the color red is prominently used. The color red signifies blood, danger, and death. In the scene where the kidnappers are driving away, they are stopped by a policeman and are pulled over by a red light that floods the car from behind, accompanied by diegetic sirens. The white snow is splattered with blood when the policeman is shot. Two people who witness the incident follow the two red lights, which then disappear. They only see it when the car floods with red when the car is overturned.

Also, the boy who runs from the car is wearing a red jacket. He also splatters the snow with blood when he gets shot. Similarly, the girl in the car is also shot. This scene repeats itself when the two criminals stumble and spray the snow with blood. Also, there is a repetition of red lights from the police car as they come to arrest the remaining criminals. This recurring motif of red against the white snow starkly portrays the violence and chaos amidst the calm and serene landscape.

Costumes and Characterization

The use of costumes is set in a way that helps the viewers understand the characters even more. For example, the fawn and beige suits which Jerry wears depict his dull nature and view of the world. While he is always in suits, at the end he is in pajamas, which show that he has lost everything. This symbolizes passiveness, and it is very easy to see that he does not command respect from the others and that he is easily bullied. This is ironic because he is the mastermind behind all the kidnappings, which aim to get about one million dollars.

Dialogue and Character Interaction

There are also small phrases and actions that help viewers to understand and relate to the characters in the film. For example, Jerry has a nervous and fidgety performance which illustrates that his plans are not going to work. Also, to help set the setting, the word ‘yah’ is used regularly in the film. In addition, the pregnant policewoman is always eating. While it is common knowledge that when one is pregnant, they eat more, this helps to connect the character with the spectators by introducing a sense of humor and personality traits.

Opening Scene and Moral Dilemma

The opening scene is that of Jerry walking toward the car, which shows that he is at a crossroad or a dilemma. In fact, the producers use the snow tracks which physically form a crossroad. This idea emphasizes that Jerry has crossed his moral line because the snow track symbolizes moral lines and the car symbolizes crime. Inside the car, the light comes from one side, which shows both sides of the ransom. Although he successfully gets the ransom, this is not a good way to get money. It is morally wrong.

Visual Techniques and Themes

Also, Jerry does not face the camera such that the viewers do not know what he is thinking. He starts to wipe the screen slowly and then violently as he proceeds. This is how the whole film starts simply as being a ransom to get money and then turns out to be a cold-blooded serial murder incident. He just had mild anger, but he became violent when fed up. The scene becomes more powerful when Jerry is heard screaming as the scratching sound becomes faster. Also, the bird's eye view is used to emphasize the decisions he made. The second instance of bird's eye view is used to signify that someone is watching, such as the security camera.

Conclusion

The setting of the movie is well placed, with humor and accents. Overall, it has a nice setting, characters, sounds, and shots.

References:

• Fargo (Film) - TV Tropes. Retrieved from https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Fargo