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Amour by Haneke

15/3/2016

What if you can choose a scene that you already like and try to match it with a classical music piece? My choice of a film is Haneke’s ‘’Amour’’. The movie is about Anne and Georges’s despite their old age still continuing love and connection until Anne gets sick become incapable of doing ordinary things. As movie progress, we see Anne’s situation getting worse and worse. Throughout the end, we see Georges losing his patience, you sense that although there is still love between them, it changed and it became something else. At some point, when Anne is not herself anymore and in a lot of pain, Georges starts to tell a story to make her stop screaming for no reason. After he slowly tells a story from his childhood, he grabs a pillow and suffocates Anne. Anne is gone. Afterwards, we see him with flowers, picking dress for Anne and we know he prepares some kind of an ceremony for her since in the beginning of the movie, we saw firemen came, opened the house and discovered the corpse of Anne. We saw him writing letters, then for the second time we see a bird in the house and he tries to catch the bird, and then explaining in the letter as if he was talking to Anne. Afterwards, he hears some voice from the kitchen, he goes and saw Anne doing the dishes, and then they go out together. Then we saw the daughter coming to the empty home, wondering and sitting on the couch, and the movie ends. In my interpretation, after he kills Anne, he saw an illusion of her and go out, since in the beginning of finding Anne’s body he was nowhere around, then the daughter came to the home after they found Anne’s body and took her.
In first attempt to find the proper piece for the end scene, I thought of the flower aria of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly for the home preparation (cutting flowers, closing doors, choosing dress etc.) scene. I linked the situation of Butterfly’s hope for her love to arrive and prepare the home. And for the killing scene, for create opposition, I remembered the last aria of Carmen before she is killed, contrasting the braveness and strength of Carmen and weakness of Anne at that moment, both being killed by the men who loves them. But then I changed my mind because these arias are too strong, the director wants these events seen natural, there shouldn’t be a climax for these events, in fact these arias would be the wrong choice. Because as audience, we understand Georges do that to end her suffer, and we saw the change of a relationship that is a process, not a single scene. However, there is strong emotion for this truth about love that ne never think. It may change in the future. I really love the fact there is no music in those scenes. But after the sudden end of the movie, leaving us confused, there could be music in the post-credit scene. The choice I make for that part, is not made because of the obvious ‘’funeral’’ resembles, but because the individuality of the piece. And that piece is Beethoven’s Symphony No.3 Eroica 2nd Movement.
In the beginning there is a procession rhythm that we may resemble it to walking in the funeral. But do we play it for the Anne’s death? No, we are walking to the end of love that we now know it will happen at some point in life no matter how much connected you are. Then in 03.02 we fall into the personal feelings, good and bad memories but we always come back to the main melody that means we remember where we are.
At the end, hearing this piece, it is a farewell to their long-lasting love for the first time. The respect we feel, you can feel in the beats and in the synchronization of the steps of everyone in that imaginary ceremony.
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The Usage of Classical Music in The Clockwork Orange by Kubrick

27/2/2016

In the film, there is a variety of classical music usage; however, one stands among them, and that is Beethoven’s 9th symphony. This is an important choice, this cannot be another piece because it is not just that Alex conditioned against all the things he enjoyed in his life. On contrary, it is about the society, free will, violence, class differences etc. There is a variety of composers from different times and styles; each will be examined separately.

Purcell

The film opens with electronic version of Purcell’s The Funeral to Queen Mary. The piece is the dark side of a funeral, not a sentimental but the scary, distance funeral. This is when we first meet Alex, at Kodova drinking milk, in a disturbing sex objects and hunger for ultra – violence. The second time we heart the Purcell is just after Alex finishes to sing ‘’Singing in the rain’’ and starts raping the writer’s wife. After that, we are again at the Kodova for drinking milk. Although Purcell start at the writer’s house, when Alex goes into the milk store, he said ‘’after the disk on the stereo stopped, she started to sing’’; and then Purcell stops, so was Purcell diegetic music? And after, Alex punishes his friend for disturbing 9th symphony, Purcell starts again. Purcell was Alex’s usual state of mind, and it only stops when he heard Beethoven. Since we can be in the Alex’s own world, the sex objects the language, and the background music is Purcell. When he arrives at home, different version of Purcell is played again, started with whistle, and the inner world of Alex is introduced in his room.
Purcell was used mostly in the first part of Alex’s life. We hear it again when as a test, Alex is confronted with a naked model. Is this reminded him his old life, or is it because we saw that Alex didn’t change, just couldn’t perform as he wishes?
When we see the old gang as a police, we hear Purcell again. The gang is from his former life, and we understand even he is not changed, the environment changed for him and he is being punished properly now. He used to see violence choreographically but know the hitting sounds added to the piece disturb the tune, because now he experiences violence and doesn’t receive it as an art form.
We hear the Purcell last time at the hospital in a major tonality. It is a clue that Alex’s life again turn to its own path. He will not return to his former life, but he is recovered from the cure and can create a similar life.

Rossini

Rossini was a composer that composed very fast, the pieces have similarities and not have a deep meaning. He usually composed comedy operas, and produced a lot of catchy melodies. This is why it is hard to associate the usage of Rossini with the plot of the opera. The meaning hear just a joyful melody in Alex’s mind associated with violence and rape.
Rossini’s two opera overtures is used in the film. ‘’La Gazza Ladra’’ is first used at the fight scene with Billy Boy gang, as an opera staging, with dancing like figures, since Alex’s mind is perceived that fight as a work of art.
The second time we heard the same piece, is when Alex, with a help of a lovely music as he say, beats his gang friends for making decisions for whole group. This is again Alex’s perception of the violence as a good solution and he needs some music in his head to help him, to make his art. The tune continues for a while, in the cat lady scene.
The William Tell overture’s final part is used in the flash forwarded orgy scene. The tune itself is really fast, and really famous. Rossini was very proud with himself in regard of usage of instruments. In other words, he claim he knows well which instrument plays the which part, so there is variety of instrument change in his works. In addition to that, the piece is very choreographic. This maybe the link in Alex’s mind, that he saw that action as a choreography.
The less known, beginning part of the overture used twice. First one was gazing upon the prison, the sad part of Alex’s life. Overtures are a brief summary of the opera, the themes that is used in the certain situations, as a leitmotif or not, and usually by looking at the opera you can understand whether it is a happy ending or not. The sad part of William Tell overture appears at the beginning of 2nd and 3rd act of Alex’s life, and we understand those parts will not be happy parts. When he comes to his own home after he’s cured, he understands that he will not be able to continue his old life, there is a beginning of William Tell Overture in the background, makes us associated with Alex, even though we know he is still the same person, we feel for him.

Rimsky-Korsakov

Rimsky – Korsakov’s Scheherazade is used only once in the film, when Alex reading the big book and dreaming about the violence and sex. In religion, he found nothing, and a piece written for the ‘’One Thousand and One Nights’’ fairytale is nothing related to the religious stories. However, he imagines and understands stories in this way. There is a mocking in that scene, while the father thinks he found peace in the religion, on the other hand he seems so peaceful because he is imagining having sex with maidens etc.
Edward Elgar

1st and 4th march from Pomp and Circumstances marches is used in the film. 1st march is associated with graduation and it is almost impossible to think separately. So there is a walking proudly feeling in it. When the inspector checks out the rooms, guards are proud of their system. In the following scenes, we saw guards as they do not trust to this cure and trust the prison system. The scene also followed by Alex picked out for a new cure, in a way Alex graduated from prison and take a step toward his freedom.
The 4th march is used when Alex enters to the hospital. There is a ceremony taken place by the guards, march is appropriate for this ridiculous ceremony, there is an irony there.

Beethoven

Alex loves Beethoven. In his room we see Beethoven’s portrait and statue. He hushes his gang in order not to disturb the soprano singing ‘’Ode to Joy’’, and this causes a tension between them, later that will cause Alex to be arrested. After this tension, when Alex goes to his room, he plays 9th symphony 2nd movement followed by a disturbing images as a video clip. In the morning, when his mother arrives the symphony continues without any change, turned into a non-diegetic music.
When he is walking among the music stores, again it is 9th symphony in the background 4th movement. It is like Alex’s mind is closed to other musics and just hear the Beethoven in that moment.
In the prison, the inspector looks at Alex’s room, takes and looks at the Beethoven’s statue, he doesn’t seem surprise, and maybe even he couldn’t recognize the music genius. Then Alex begins his ‘’cure’’, and 9th symphony came across with a visual of Nazis. Very rightfully, Alex starts to scream to this ‘’sin’’.
9th symphony is composed over nationalism after the French revolution. In the 4th movement of the symphony, we are given fragments from previous movements but cellos (representing human voice) reject all as in a recitative mode. Then there is a search for a melody. First there is a hesitation in the melody, then basses plays the melody, then liked the melody but it played lightly. Then each instrument accepts the melody one by one. At 5.00 the melody started to spread. Idealism is spread to the all instruments. Cello starts again, indicating the human voice. Then the bass says ‘’ those are not the melodies we seek’’. The melody is our savior; the joy is in that melody, melody. After, they celebrate the melody in the end with the chorus (majority’s approval). The piece is associated with nationalism.
How 9th symphony could be background music for concentration camps? It is indeed a sin as Alex shouted. Although scientists surprised to find out that Alex listened to Beethoven before, they didn’t close the sound. It was one good thing in Alex’s life that he enjoyed, but they didn’t leave it. For that reason, Alex is become dehumanized and alienated towards the life. He no longer has any enjoyment. The one good thing in his life turned into a torture device. However, the importance is that the piece is written for noble feelings, become a tool in the system that is clearly doesn’t working, used by seemingly ‘’elite’’ class and destroy free will. And at the end of the film, since Alex is ‘’cured alright’’ and remain as Alex after all, celebration part of the finding a melody as a savior, as a solution is played.

Kubrick says Beethoven that those findings, wasn’t enough after all. Systems changed, but we are tools of those different systems still. Look we celebrate that Alex is now a part of the machine, didn’t file a suit and remain a sociopath.

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Appearance of The Theme Music in La Dolce Vita by Fellini

27/2/2016

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In La Dolce Vita, the theme music, written by Nino Rota, is heard three times throughout the movie. The first appearance is at the scene with Sylvia at 37.27. After the diegetic music ends that Sylvia and her friends dance with, we hear the slow version of the theme music non-diegeticly. It last only about thirty seconds before they requested another song. What is the importance of the scene that requires a special music? In my opinion, not that important. When the theme music plays, we only see the other people who sit at the table, stating the fault in the costumes that indicates they are aware of their surroundings, they are even careful enough to notice. However, for Sylvia, life is so fast contrasting with the slackened theme music.

The second time is at 1.56.00. We are at the party that is boring. There is already a jazz-like music in the scene, but when Marcello enters the room, we hear the blues version of the theme music. This time it lasts longer, and other than repeating itself, each repeat has some differences, sometimes the instrument that plays the main motive changes, sometimes accompanied instruments added. The blues feeling makes us thing that rhythm is being late to each beat. That is associated with the boredom and the meaningless conversations.

At the last time, we hear the original-full version theme music. It is fast and repeated many times. It is heard when the party is at peak. Now, the life is too fast and everybody tries to catch up. There is special interference to make the party continue, no toleration for stopping. In the scene, like a theatre, actors salute the audiences and leave the house one by one. The music sounds like curtain music, no matter what the play’s subject/plot, both actors and audience is happy for their success. And the struggle of the main character to find himself is now over.  At the outside, music continues with little less sound then disappears with a decrescendo.

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Vertigo by Hitchcock

27/2/2016

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The movie starts with the Scottie’s disease. After seeing a man’s falling from the deck, he suffers from Vertigo. Since Vertigo doesn’t allow him to contain his job as a detective, he suddenly becomes available to anything. He gets a job offer from his old friend Gavin, even he doesn’t believe the ghost story at the beginning, he, at some level, associate himself with Madeleine and starts to follow her. When we first saw her, that our mind already expects someone mysterious, music leads us to their table, and Madeleine is so charming with her vulnerability. Then we start to chase her with Scottie. She becomes more and more desirable.

In the chasing scenes, there are no conversations, only the music that makes it so beautiful. After we found out about her story, Scottie wants some logical explanation, so do we. We hope that he find it. However, at the end of the movie, when at very end it is all logically explained to us, we are shocked and this time Scottie, and us, don’t want that explanation. Madeleine’s dreams about the corridor and the darkness, she becomes more and more close to the death. They wonder together in the sequoia trees, making a contrast with death and immortality. After they live their peak romance by the waves. Finally, they arrived to the tower. At that point, Madeleine spokes for both Madeleine and Judy. The fabricated Madeleine is torn apart with inner reality. When she says ‘’ it is too late, there is something I have to do’’ at 1.14.05, is she saying that as Madeleine or Judy? Is she really fell in love with Scottie and didn’t want to leave him? Scottie isn’t able to pursue her due to vertigo, and the music is spiral that makes the turning feeling. This theme associated with the chasing and the vertigo. Then, she jumps from the tower. This is the second traumatic event for the Scottie, for the second time he chases someone but couldn’t prevent the death. After this event, he is treated in the institution, but even after that, we saw him as a troubled mind. He goes to the same places, finding her car, he is searching her, he mistakes other woman for Madeleine. As an audience, we pity him that he is not capable of let her go. And when he founds Judy, we are not sure if he really finds her, or is he torturing both himself and her. Also, as an audience, we wonder what this movie is all about? She died, but we continue to watch, so is it about the Scottie’s suffering and effort to find her in someone else? Will he stock to other girls? However, at 1.37.46 I understand that something is different, because for the first time, Scottie closed the door, and I am alone with the girl. I switched into the Judy’s point of view. So, she should be Madeleine. And about 10 seconds later, I really understand she is Madeleine. Then, there is a sudden flashback that explains everything very quickly. At this point, every possible ending is vanished, and I hear the new music.

When we see her, we understand that she played the role Madeleine very successfully, because she is so different. Her looks, her character, her walk, everything is different than Madeline. After we are met with Judy, I understand she is a happy, perky person. Then how she played Madeleine so perfectly? Madeleine was her potential, maybe she is vulnerable inside, as we observe while Scottie tries to change her, she just choose to be happy. Actually, Scottie didn’t want to find Madeleine as a person, he wants to possess her within the same conditions, with same vulnerability. Here there is Judy in front of him, but he still looks to the woman with Madeleine’s style. When he started to change her, she resists. She resists to become Madeleine, she want to be herself, but Scottie never hesitates even a moment. As an audience, I become strange to Scottie, although he is the victim, he doesn’t know he is the victim and he tries to use Judy to replicate Madeleine. Scottie says twice ‘’It can’t matter to you’’, he can’t even think that she has separate feelings or she is a different person. He obsessed with Madeleine.

Finally, our theme music appears on the make-up scene. This is the transaction that Judy sacrifices herself to become Madeleine, to live in a play for rest of her life. She resists keeping one thing for herself; her hair, but Scottie doesn’t let her. She becomes Madeleine, and she changed, she suppress her Judy character inside and becomes Madeleine. The music is so soft and romantic, it is like they miss each other, although they are together. And Scottie finally return to the past, finally bring her Eurydice back. As they kiss, we heard the ‘’Scene d’amour’’ melody which is, in my opinion, is very similar to Wagner’s ‘’Tristan und Isolde’’. Tristan und Isolde believes they can only love each other when they are died. Scottie also will never be able to love Madeleine again, as he did. Also, in the harmonic structure of the peace, there are resembles to Bizet’s opera Carmen’s famous aria ‘’La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetée’’. The plot of this opera is appropriate since Don Jose loves Carmen so much; at the end he kills Carmen due to his jealousy. However, whether Herrmann make the resemble intentionally or it is a coincidence, we do not know.

However, this is not an end either. Then, Scottie understands the events. He understands everything. He returns to the tower. Why? He could of force Judy at the hotel to tell the truth, but he wants it to be striking. Although he learns to truth, he still calls him Madeleine. He was so obsessive he would understand that she is not Madeleine anyway. Judy tries to convince him, this time it’s Scottie’s time to say ‘’too late’’. He finally understands that Madeleine is gone, and there is no turning her back. While they are kissing we hear are main music motive, we hear that before while they kissing also, but this time music stops early, Madeleine falls and then music continues. Because Scottie couldn’t love her that way, but now that she completed her Madeleine role by dying, he could love her.

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The Seventh Seal by Bergman

27/2/2016

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In the Bergman’s famous movie The Seventh Seal, one of the most important scenes is the scene that we see Black Death, Jesus and Jongleurs (art) in same frame. When Jongleurs sing their songs mocking about the Black Death, their performance is interrupted by a procession of flagellants, led by monks swinging incense burners and chanting. Meanwhile, Skat, the unmarried actor, has become involved with the flirtatious wife of the blacksmith, Plog. Then we see afraid jongleurs, Jesus and the man who is talking about Black Death.
At first, we see the jongleurs mocking about the most serious subject in our lives ; death. They are able to undervalue the sickness that most of the people suffer from. Their aim is creating joy among the audience and to make forget how sadness it is and give people the courage of mocking with the death. Then, they are interrupted by a procession of flagellants who sing ‘’Dies Irae’’ which is about judgement day. Everybody who laugh at jongleurs’ play a minute ago, starts to knee, cry and pray when they hear them coming. They believe that God punish them due to their sins. Furthermore, when the speech which includes how everybody will die, how the humanity is being punished by God and how they must punish themselves in order to get rid of their sin and join them, we see that there are people who join the procession of flagellants. People afraid of the church because church blames people for Black Death and the only solution they find was accuse people and burn them. They all afraid of judgement day and while group is leaving, audience starts to sing Dies Irae. We see the conflicts of life and death ; joy and fear here. In the movie, while some people question their faith and ask themselves whether the God exists or not, some people punish themselves to get rid of Black Death, and Church is looking for person to blame in order to find an explanation why this is happening to them. Yet jongleurs maintain entertaining people and have enough sense of humour that able them to make fun of death.

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