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.
Nice job, Ash! It is need that it is Cleopatra's downcast eyes, mirroring her depressed mood, that lead her and us to notice the ring on Octavian's finger in this medium shot. The white hilt on his sword is the second most well-lighted item next to Cleopatra's dress, and so it can serve as a secondary focus of our attention. And the ring is just below it.
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