MirandaFilmStudies: Mise-en-scene in Caligari and Edward Scissorhands

Mise-en-scene in Caligari and Edward Scissorhands

The French phrase, Mise-en-scene, is the staging of a scene and is the overall feel of the movie. It reveals distinct styles and themes. In The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, a story told through the eyes mental unstable man, has a very distinct Mise-en-scene. It has abstract objects and the style, composition, and design that are eerie. Similarly, the movie Edward Scissorhands also has a very distint style, composition, design, and similar characters to Caligari. Both movies have similar settings, characters, and themes. Both The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Edward Scissorhands share similar Mise-en-scenes by have similar settings, characters, and themes.

In The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and in Edward Scissorhands they share the same kind of settings. In The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari there are obscure objects and distorted furniture, and even the shadows are odd. The similar Mise-en-scene is in Edward's castle. In Edward Scissorhands, the castle where Edward lives also has obscure objects and the castle itself is distorted much like Caligari. Another example of Mise-en-scene, is the similarity of characters in both movies. In Edward Scissorhands, Edward has the features of tall, dark, and pale and in Caligari, the character Cesare shares the same features. However, the psychical features are not the only thing they have in common, in both stories they are put up to bad deeds. Edward was put up to stealing by using his hands to pick a lock and Cesare was used to murder by Caligari. Lastly, both Edward Scissorhands and Caligari look at society. In Caligari it could be said that Caligari represents the corrupt part of society where he abuses his power to get out of his crime of murdering and in Edward Scissorhands, it shows how society is a conformity, and if there is a difference then it should be shunned.

The importance of the setting and look of each film is that they relay meanings of society and brings you closer to understanding the stories plot and message. In The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari the setting portrays an unbalance. This unbalance of the setting can represent the mental state of Francis, however it can represent the unbalance of power Dr. Caligari has where in this case he abuses his power to get away with murder. Also in Edward Scissorhands the setting tells us about Edward and how his appearance sets him about from the rest of the town, which is bland. The setting in Edward Scissorhands also relays the commentary of society and it's conformity. In the end, the Mise-en-scene is important in a film by the effects it has on the viewer.

Cesare & Edward Comparison