Black Narcissus Film review

7/30/2019 Black Narcissus Film review

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Black Narcissus

Black Narcissus uses colour to illustrate certain parts of the movie , colour theory

explains the colour red, Red is the colour of extremes .It is the color of

passionate love, seduction, violence, danger, anger and adventure(Morton,s.d)

Red is used in this film to explain all of these emotions within Black Narcissus.

The lighting doesnt reflect a realistic notion of natural light in the film therichness and vibrant colours especially the red light that creeps in is so pungent

that it feels like it wants the viewer to register something more than just a

sunset.

Figure 1 Black Narcissus(1947)

Figure one shows sister Ruth before her mental break down the red lighting

connotes the sexual frustration that she has built up. The white nuns uniform is a

great contrast to the red and allows her sexual desires to be visually strong.

The poster art uses red against the white of the nuns uniform and it reallypromotes a sense of danger and lust. The Image in figure 2 shows a nun ringing

the bell and another nun in the foreground. It doesnt really suggest a lot inregards to what may occur in the film. But that is a reflection of Black Narcissus ,

it doesnt really explain a lot in the film and its not extremely obvious why thenuns have become depressed and slightly deranged.


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Figure 2. Black Narcissus Poster Art.(1947)

The film is difficult to read at times because The undefined force that assails theNuns is expressed only in visual terms(Erikson,2007) like sister Ruth secluding

her self more from the other nuns and the other nun who planted flowers

instead of food. Why this is so sad is uncovered when the nun explains that the

seclusion from the outside world has allowed her to reflect on her past life and

these memories have drive her into doing labour.

The nuns in the film are a reflection on society and their views on female

sexuality ,the nuns are sexually deprieve and the secluded surroundings allow

them to reflect on what they have tried to suppress emotionally. Cale said that

nor did they anticipate the very spot where an old generals concubines oncefrolicked would so possess their spirits(Cale,2007) Cale appears to be sayingthat because there was so much sin in their dwellings before they arrived the

spirits of sexuality and lust possessed them. Its ironic that the ultimate getaway

from society that should have allowed them to get closer to God drove them

away from their religious practises .


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Bibliography

Morton,J.(s.d).The meanings of Red.At:http://www.colormatters.com/red(

Accessed13.12.12)

Erikson,G,2007.DVD Savant Review: Black Narcissus. At:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s179narciss.html(Accessed13.12.12)

Cale,M.(2007). Black Narcissus.At:http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/927/black-

narcissus/(Accessed13.12.12)

Illustration list

Figure 1 Black Narcissus(1947).From Black Narcissus. Directed by: Micheal

Powell and Emeric Pressburger.[ Film still].At:

http://www.avforums.com/movies/images/media/9415/capture2.jpg(

Accessed13.12.12)

Figure 2. Black Narcissus Poster Art.(1947)[Poster] At:

http://filmsdefrance.com/img/Black_Narcissus_poster_1.jpg (

Accessed13.12.12)
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Black Narcissus Film review