The Royal Tenenbaums Film Analysis

Even though Wes Anderson's film The Royal Tenenbaums contains both diegetic and non-diegetic music, non-diegetic music connects the characters to the scene because provides the viewers to feel emotions when dialogue is not present and a better understanding of each character. First, The Royal Tenenbaums non-diegetic music connects the characters to the scene. For example, the clip where Richie Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson) is attempting suicide the non-diegetic music in the background soundtrack is “Needle in the Hay” by Elliot Smith. This musical score’s tone sounds grim and defeated just as Richie may feel as he is trying to commit suicide. Which intensifies the dramatic event as Richie cuts his beard and as his experiences flashbacks to his captive pet hawk, Mordicai, his father Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), and of his adoptive sister, Margot Tenenbaum (Gwyneth Paltrow), who is the love of his life whom he feels that he can never be with her. Additionally, non-diegetic music provides an understanding of each character in the film in the film, The Royal Tenenbaums. …show more content…
With that in mind, the non-diegetic music soundtrack “Fly” by Nick Drake during the clip when Richie Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson) leaves the hospital and is sitting on a bus going home which allows viewers to feel his second chance of hope after attempting suicide. Moreover, the audience feels the pain that Richie has fallen as far as he could go in life and his only option after his failed suicide attempt is to move on and try living again. In conclusion, although Wes Anderson's film The Royal Tenenbaums contains both diegetic and non-diegetic music, non-diegetic music connects the characters to the scene for two main reasons. First, a better understanding of each character in the film but most importantly provides the viewers to feel emotions when dialogue is not