Comparison Of Le Mepris And Rear Window

Understanding how and why the couples of Le Mepris and Rear Window move throughout their living space the way that they do is incredibly important to understanding their relationships more broadly. Those who use these tools to enhance the exchange of looks are more apt to have a successful relationship, as this exchange is a form of communication deeply related to physical presences—which is very relevant to romantic relationships. In Le Mepris, Camille’s use of space often relates to escaping—a clear indicator of her and Paul’s failing relationship and Paul’s power in it (power in this paper being defined as: the ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something). Rear Window instead shows a maturing relationship and a situation …show more content…
When Lisa is across the courtyard in Thorwald’s apartment she becomes the complete focal point of Jeff and the viewer’s attention. Again, the camera remains mostly fixed and there is very little light present outside of Thorwald’s apartment, immediately drawing the eye to whatever is moving within the apartment. While not the dominating physical presence of the scene (that title probably has to go to the extremely tall Thorwald) Lisa seems to lead the motion of the scene by being the one to back up and lead Thorwald’s motions, and thus the viewer and Jeff are strongly drawn toward looking at her. When she moves behind the wall panels the viewer is thrown into a frenzy from not being able to see her. Culminating what has been building up throughout the whole film, in this scene Lisa’s motion is used to focalize her and the setting around her serves to even glorify her—her pale skin and dress seem to match bright lights around her, with her presence compared to the large and darkly dressed Thorwald making her seem extremely innocent and virtuous even as she is getting into trouble for having broken into someone’s apartment. It is no coincidence that this the scene where she wears a wedding ring for the first time—through her motion Jeff seems helpless but to follow her with his gaze, giving her the power, and marrying him has been one of her central goals throughout the film. This scene marks the height of Lisa’s power through motion, and seems to be the moment where she gets exactly what she has been wanting. The last scene of the film seems to confirm that she what she was trying for through motion. Jeff now sits with two casts on his legs, making him even more motionless than before. Lisa sits near him, smiling and engaged, finally able to rest after having met her