Cleopatra Review: Landon

Colors in Cleopatra play a role in deciphering the importance and ranks of characters.  There is a scene early on in the film that represents this clearly. It is when Caesar arrives in Egypt for the first time. In the foreground is Ptolemy and his royal aids, all in lavish gold armor and clothing. This shows their wealth and power in the scene. In the background are the workers unloading crates from the dock. They are in browns and tans, to show their lower class lifestyle. It is a more rugged and worn color. The clothing that the characters wear is significant in discovering motives and positions of power.

Cleopatra Screenshot- Alayna K

 

This full, eye level shot of 3 characters looking down at Cleopatra shows how defeated she is in this moment. In this scene Cleopatra is the powerless character because Mark Antony has just died, and she now knows Octavian has killed her son. She also is disheartened because Octavian has made his intentions clear that he wishes to make Egypt a territory of Rome. Her continuous struggle to take power over Egypt and Rome throughout the movie is now over and she accepts defeat; in this moment she plans to end her own life. Towering above Cleopatra, Octavian has much power because he believes Cleopatra has agreed to rule over Egypt as a province of Rome. He also feels accomplished because the traitor, Mark Antony, is now dead and Cleopatra will have no one left to defend her.

Cleopatra Screencap Analysis - Ash

 

Of all the powerful moments in Cleopatra, I find the one where Cleopatra decides to take her life to be most resonant. This is one of the rare scenes where the camera is looking down at her, and by placing Octavius above her, the audience better understands that she has lost the power she once held. The lighting gives the scene a deeper feeling of despair, as do the drab colors of the tomb. The most light and color lie on Cleopatra herself, giving her the focus she deserves in this penultimate scene. Finally, the medium shot gives us a clear view of Cleopatra's face after she sees Octavius wear the ring she gave to her son: with nothing left to live for, she closes her eyes and accepts her fate.

Cleopatra Scene - Anders Webb

 

In Cleopatra, at the very beginning, the watcher is overloaded with a battle scene of the Battle of Pharsalus. The watcher has enough time to figure out a war is going on between two armies, and no one in particular is shows, only hordes of people and smaller groups discussing battle, or the result of the battle. I don't particularly remember, but Caesar might have had his name mentioned before the screen above, but not in great detail. The scene above is the first time caesar is given the full spotlight in the movie, and implies a few things to the watcher with the background, lighting, and mise en scene. First off, the main shot mostly in the center of the screen is of Caesar, who, among other people wearing roman-looking uniforms, seems to be wearing a slightly more ornate version, implying a sort of higher status among the people. The shot is also on even ground with Caesar, not giving any low or high angle in order to keep the watcher's attention on the scene around him, instead of further emphasizing his sole importance in the scene. While the lighting on Caesar doesn't stand out too much, the lighting on the soldiers behind him create a sense of prestige and sharpness in the eyes of the watcher. Regarding the mise en scene, Caesar is in the forefront in a full body shot, garding the most attention of any individual aspect on the screen, but not overemphasizing his presence in the scene. In the background, there are many soldiers gathered on the left and a fort of some sort on the right side. The emphasis on the details and individual features of Caesar emphasize his importance in regards to everyone else, which are also meant to be portrayed as elite soldiers of the roman army. The fort is representative, and seems like it would be a place to discuss important matters of the army, and gives Caesar a portrayal as a tactician in the army. The combination of the two gathered backgrounds both imply that the front character is am important character who is a key aspect of the army, both in regard and in intelligence. Even without knowing anything about what is going on, the watcher finally has a somewhat established sense of organization finally that leads into the next scene where Caesar directs his army to Egypt. 

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Screenshot- Stella Vincent

  This caught my attention the most because it utilizes a variety of methods to show power dynamic. For one cleopatra is kept as front and center, this is by a combination of supporting factors to manipulate your eyes direction: one example is the rule of thirds which brings your eye directly to her. She is also the brightest and most well-lit person in the frame. There is a subtle yet important use of shadows on her face that contour it making her appear even more powerful, while the rest of the characters experience random areas of glare or shadow. If you consider the clothing worn you will also find cleopatra to be highlighted while the other characters are more mildly dressed. 

 

Cleopatra Review - Matthew

 

This moment in particular stuck out to me for several reasons. One of those being the previous grand entrance moments before this is taken, to both win the roman people over with her abundance of wealth and to possibly scare Roman senators into place to show she is nothing to be messed with, like how Caesar walked all over her before falling in love. Another technical reason why both this film and this shot were remembered by is the use of the rule of thirds so well, a focus on Cleopatra and a blur of her riches behind her, possibly representing the focus she has and her past successes leading her to Caesar but mainly just showing the technical ability this film showcased. 

Cleopatra review- Chase

    This specific screenshot from the movie Cleopatra gave me literal chills. Caesar was betrayed by his own men and brutally murdered. He was stabbed by 7 of his men a total of 23 times. One of these men was Antony and that was just completely unexpected. This cruel act of betrayal left me completely astonished. After this I could not help but be on the edge of my seat for the rest of the movie. It left me wondering what would happen next? Who would they betray next? Well come to find out, it was their own people that they would betray next.

Cleopatra Review - Amanda

The eye-level camera angle shows the equal power between Anthony and Cleopatra. Anthony is given power by being taller and a man, while Cleopatra’s power comes from her clothes. The choice of green and the snake like features on the gold piece around her head makes her stand out. There is a divide during this scene represented with the statue in between the two. The statue is closer to Anthony almost as if Cleopatra is pushing him back or away from her. 

Cleopatra Review- Emma S.

 

 This scene truly gave me shivers when I watched it, the power given to Cleopatra in the moment with Antony and Augustus standing below her, begging for even just a shred of her power. The theatrics of this scene as well gave Cleopatra so much power. The mise-en-scene of including all three characters, the 2 sitting and Antony standing. The golden colors that the people asking for wealth are wearing while Cleopatra wears the conniving green to show she's not trust-worthy to them. But of all, my favorite part is the low angle from Cleopatra's back. Antony has his head tilted up to Cleopatra, while the camera shrinks his power and glory. 

Cleopatra Scene Analysis, Jaylah B

 

Most interesting here is power dynamics. “SPQR” stands above the door and almost everyone, implying Rome (the good of its people or its powerful reputation) stands above all, overseeing proceedings—the few Senators above it a nod to corruption. As for foreground characters: while Octavian is consul and a member of the triumvirate, he’s the lowest. In order to start his war, he’s at the mercy of the Senator. His words will mean nothing without confirmation of the “Will of Marc Antony.” And, because the Senate itself must declare war, the Senate rises above even them. Without the chain of events (from him, to the Senator, to the Senate), what Octavian wants doesn’t happen.

Zach Martin Cleopatra Scene review

This is my favorite scene in the movie. Antony is so focused on Cleopatra that he cannot see the men dying all around him. His head is held high unable to look down at his reality he can only think of Cleopatra. He is not centered in this shot showing how he is unfocused, no longer driven in the correct direction. The color is less vibrant on his armor almost symbolizing him leaving behind his “roman-ness” and ambition. Similarly, the oarsman is not one of his beloved Roman soldiers but an Egyptian showing a physical representation of him leaving behind his Roman past.

Cleopatra by Morgan Wigert

As someone who has been interested in Cleopatra since they were little, I was deeply interested in this movie. I enjoyed all of it but decided on this scene to analyze. In this scene, the eye level camera angle allows the viewer to observe the dynamic between Antony and Cleopatra. Antony is put in a position of power looking down on Cleopatra, despite this Cleopatra’s power is still shown in her clothes. The choice of green reveals Cleopatra’s cunning along with the choice of gold snakes. Full analysis of the scene puts Cleopatra and Antony as equals despite the difference in gender.

Scene From Cleopatra (1963) - Veronica Castille

 

This wide-shot shows viewers both the interaction between Caesar and Cleopatra and the Roman-Egyptian audience in the background. We're given a clear view of the pair and setting, giving the effect that we too are part of the audience. The composition as part of the mise-en-scene emphasizes Cleopatra bowing down to Caesar, just as he once knelt to her during her crowning ceremony. Finally returning the submissive favour, Cleopatra acknowledges the moment with a wink. Caesar is sporting his ceremonial purple toga amongst a majority of traditional Roman red. In contrast, Cleopatra and Caesarion are in gold, as are the Egyptian servants. This dichotomy in colour highlights the individual importance of the two as well as the separation and current merging between the two peoples.

Cabria Post- Chase

 I did not like the movie. It was very much so all over the place and hard to understand and keep up with. The technology in the movie was pretty amazing though and seemed relatively advanced for its time.

Cabiria Review - Anders Webb

When I heard that Cabiria was a silent film, I didn't get my hopes too high, as the only other silent film I've seen is some of Fantasia, which I found pretty boring. When watching it, the movie was very different from what I had expected, and the music accompaniment was pretty good. I didn't love the lack of variety in soundtracks and the only instrument being a piano or two, and really thought the repetition and lack of options took away from my engagement and the tones of some scenes. The emphasis on physical reactions and character expression to convey messages was definitely a large part of the film, especially given the lack of voice recordings. I think, for what was possible given the time, the movie really is great. I'm not gonna lie, though; I did fall asleep for a few minutes in the middle. 

Review of Cabiria - Emma S

 Going into the movie, I did not expect much from the movie. I have never particularly enjoyed sitting down and watching movies for the analyzation, especially if it had no dialogue. But I have to admit this movie exceeded any and all my standards. For it's time it did more than just tell a viewer a story, but instead gave the viewer their own experience in the story. The camera angles and mise en scene immersed the watcher into the world of Rome and the story of not only Cabiria but also Machiste. I would definitely recommend this movie to people who want to learn more about Rome's history and the history of film-making itself.

Alayna K -Cabiria Review

 Cabiria was my first silent film experience, my expectations were not high as I thought the lack of communication between characters would be boring. Though there was no verbal commentary, the intertitles and overemphasized acting guided the viewer through the movie. In addition to the exaggerated acting the soundtrack aided in creating suspense, joy and sadness when needed. The soundtrack was limited but the songs were strategically placed in a way that was fitting in some manner, though not always obvious. The set designs and special effects were dated but impressive for the time when this film was made. For example, the build for the Temple of Moloch was so intricate and grand. I was equally impressed with the model volcanic eruption and the flames bursting from the statue during the sacrifice of the children. Overall I am pleased with my first experience with a silent film and I would recommend Cabiria. 

Cabiria Review

Going into "Cabiria", I was concerned it was going to be dull. It was my first silent film, and it spanned a whopping 2 hours. However, right off the bat it grips your attention with a chaotic volcanic eruption destroying the home of the protagonist Cabiria as a child. Soon after she is abducted by pirates, and it doesn't let up from there. There is also an interesting side plot with the Roman character Fulvio Axilla and his servant Maciste. They are dynamic, likable characters, and Maciste always managed to steal the spotlight. Overall, my introduction to silent films was a delightful surprise.

A Note on Cabiria— Jaylah MB

As a lover of many black-and-white classics, as well as being a music nerd, I generally had fairly decent expectations for Cabiria going in— essentially, my thoughts were “eh, it can’t be that bad.” However, always weary of cheesy acting and rough storylines, I had some accompanying doubts.

I am pleased to say, however, that it surpassed my expectations. Cabiria is a theatrical phenomenon, and though a product of its time, simultaneously transcends being so.

Most notably, the production and technical aspects of the film were generally spectacular. The costumes were lavish and told a story; the lighting provided a stunning amount of contrast for the day; the practical and special effects were integrated and pulled off seamlessly. The most impressive piece, however, was the angles and, more specifically, the movement of the camera. Throughout the duration of the film, the mise en scene proved to be impeccably thought out, and if you were paying attention, led you to understand more about characters and the situations they found themselves in than one would expect. However, in addition to the setup of the shot, the addition of panning shots, where the camera moves on a rig or mobile tripod and is able to sweep through the shot to draw focus or, conversely, to show scope, is revolutionary for its time. This development paved the way for revolutionizing the movie camera into the artistic element we know it as today—and thus watching as a consumer of modern media, seems to be a much more relatively modern film compared to its actual release date.

Though the acting, while good for its age, was of course exaggerated for effect due to the nature of the movie—and we all had to agonize over how long and melodramatic Sophonisba’s death was—the story told was easily recognizable to a viewer and was made further immersive by the technical aspects above. It was strange, and of course propagandistic, but overall an enthralling film for its day that I would certainly watch again.

Cabiria: A Reflection by Morgan Wigert

 A dynamic piece, a testimony of its time, Cabiria delighted the moviegoers of the second half of the nineteen-tens. Cabiria, a film by Giovanni Pastrone, projects onto the silver screen the values and ideals of 1914 Italy. In its essence, it is a film set in Ancient Rome with the intent of persuading the Italian people, and eventually the world, of Italy's power and dominance. While Italy was not all-powerful at the making of the film, Cabiria shows the might of what Italy was and what it must become once more. Through its storytelling and angles, the movie promotes the Romans in the upmost way. Throughout the movie, the Romans are dominant and hold power despite being in another country. Cabiria, in its strengths, shows not only the old might of Italy but its might in movie making. Cabiria's goal is not only propaganda but to be a genuinely enjoyable movie to watch. The filmmakers accomplish that through their extraordinary sets that can rival even today's set designers. Their grand scale and detail transport the watcher to either Carthage or Sicily in upmost detail. Cabiria furthers the illusion of being in ancient times through its costumes. The costume designers' attention to detail is shown most prominently through the character of Sophonisba. In all of her scenes, she wears elaborate dresses with many patterns and added details that present the audience with an idea of the wealth and power of Carthage. Cabiria is able to keep up its fantastic illusion throughout the film, but loses it slightly due to the limits of its time. In 1914, movies were not only in black-and-white, but also silent. The watcher cannot fully emerge into Ancient Rome and Carthage due to these limitations. They cannot imagine the elaborate color of the palaces or the clothes, as most testaments of the color of Ancient Rome have lost their color, i.e. sculptures. Cabiria is a stunning film if you watch it in the mindset of someone from the late Edwardian Era. It is a piece that has withstood the test of time in its set design but lost the beautiful illusion with the modern watchers' knowledge of color and sound. 

Cabiria Review - Amanda

 For a black and white silent movie, "Cabiria" was what I expected. Over dramatic acting and flamboyant costumes. Both are used to compensate for the fact that the actors and actresses do not speak. A silent movie requires a more intense attention as oftentimes the scenes tie in with other scenes in order to tell a story. The movie itself was interesting but I found it difficult to watch. The scenes had decent flow and the sets were nice, however, you need more than a nice set and flow to have a good movie. A movie should hook in an audience and leave them wanting more. Personally I was not hooked during this movie. If you have seen silent movies before you will probably enjoy "Cabiria." If you are watching your first silent movie it could be a hit or miss as you are relying entirely on sight to tell a complicated story. 

Review of Cabiria (1914) - Veronica Castille

Though dreading having to see this film due to its silent, black & white nature, I was pleasantly surprised that I found myself genuinely enjoying watching it. The technical elements and directorial choices were impressive even for today; I especially liked how overlaying shots were incorporated to pull off some neat tricks and used to give off the illusion of smoke, changes in scenery (volcano erupting, desert pyramids, etc.), and the portrayal of divine interventions and characters’ dreams/flashbacks in order to make them visible to the audience. Zooming in the camera on a select few scenes was also an appreciated component that improved the storytelling and emphasis on an important plotline. The incorporation of blackface and propaganda within the storyline account for most of the film’s flaws, but overall it’s a great piece of film history that I would recommend and even watch again to try and catch aspects I missed the first time around.

Cabiria, a silent movie to spark a dialouge - Stella Vincent

Despite the glaring issues of the time, I had a surprisingly great experiance watching this movie. If you are willing to look past the misogyny, black face, propaganda, and borderline pedophilia, you will uncover a storyline filled with intrigue. Furthermore, looking into the technical side of this film you will find a wide variety of methods used to grip the viewer. My favorite areas of the film surround the costume and set design. The sets were very detailed and interesting to see. There were sceens that showed grafiti on the walls and etching in the stone. It was a level of detail I was not expecting to see, considering the era. The costume choices also caught my eye. The use of patters to help keep the attention of the viewer to make up for the lack of color was something I hadn't thought important until Mr. Knorr mentioned it. This movie was entertaining and educational on two levels. On the one hand it helped to show the dynamics of an ancient civilization, and on the other it shows the technological and societal advances we have made since the films release. 

Zach Martin Cabiria Post

 I enjoyed Cabiria a lot more than I thought I would. The stunts were all fun, the acting was humorously over the top, Machiste was a big man on the screen, and all around I can see that this movie had a huge impact on the movie making industry. However, the blackface, the jumpy plot, and the odd misogyny make it a rough watch in places. I think people should watch this movie, however make sure to add a grain of salt to your popcorn while you watch because it is a propaganda heavy movie.