A Memorable Scene: "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans"
Post your comment here by next Wednesday. Answers should be approximately 200 words, plus or minus 10%.
Here's a link to the film at YouTube: "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans"
Friday, March 7, 2014
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21 comments:
To help you with your paragraph, I will first describe my process and the note taking for the scene. You should not post your notes at the blog, only your completed paragraph.
My choice of scene is our introduction to the “woman from the city.” This scene is found at 4 minutes and 20 seconds into the film, just after the intertitle that introduces her to us as being unusual for “lingering” on her vacation. The scene is 34 seconds long. The next scene shows two peasants eating soup and then the woman appears again to have her shoes shined.
Notes for the scene:
Fades in from black to reveal a room. The room appears messy. No character is seen. Two objects are prominent in the scene: a burning candle near a mirror and makeup stand and in the background a pair of high heeled shoes. The woman runs (skips?) into the scene from the left (her hair swings as a result). She is dressed in a robe that is only loosely fastened (reveals her underwear/lingerie). Holds a cigarette in her mouth for the entire scene. First action is to light her cig on the candle. Second is combing her hair and checking herself in mirror. Third is the longest sequence: choosing the correct dress to wear. Goes back and forth to closet but finds what she wants in the dresser after all. Sequence ends with her taking off robe in preparation to dress. Not sure if this was scandalous in 1927 but pretty sure it was!
My paragraph answer (based on the notes above)
After watching “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans” twice on Friday, the scene where F.W. Murnau introduces us to “the woman from the city” remains in my memory. Clearly, she is meant to be seen as a bit flighty and “loose” in her morals. Although most women will primp themselves before a date, she is doing so in a way that invites us to dislike her from the start. She has a cigarette in her mouth for the entire scene (34 seconds in total), with it clenched in her lips, lighting it from a candle and filling the room with smoke as she prepares to see “the man.” The robe she wears is loosely fastened and reveals her black lingerie to us. The colour choice is no accident as black has long been a “sexy” colour for women to wear. The most extended action shows her searching for her dress, again one that is black (to match her strikingly shiny and very high heeled shoes). The scene ends with her taking off her robe to reveal her undergarments briefly as she reaches back to put on her dress. Thus Murnau brings us her character in 30 seconds in a way both memorable and concise.—204 words
After watching “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans”, one of the most memorable scenes was when the man’s wife had received terrific news that she was going to be going on a short trip with her husband across the river. She was such a jolly woman going through her closet searching and packing up, her clothing for the perfect outfit. Dancing and prancing around her house, she picked out a flower fedora hat, with a long white dress. The expression on her face was as if she had seen a newborn child. As she soon stepped out of her house she said goodbye to her dog, that kept frequently barking as her husband untied the rope wrapped around the boat. She stepped back to make sure he was okay and gave him a few strokes on his back. The worry on the dogs face as he tries warning her about the bad feeling he had towards his husband and owner. The scene suddenly darkens into a complete tornado when his husband starts to paddle his way, away from the dock as she sits there with her eyes gleaming brightly towards him. You could feel the suspense that rushes through to you.
At 53 minutes from the beginning of the movie “Sunrise: A song of Two Humans”, the protagonist couple enters a photographer’s studio to immortalize the rebirth of their relationship. The studio is small and cozy. The camera, of a stile that is not anymore in use, stands in front of a soft painted landscape scene: a retro background for the portraits of the man and the cheerful wife. The couple can’t overcome the chemistry that attracts them and, in a kind of waltz, they embrace each other. A silent complot of their love invites them to kiss in front of the camera ignoring the bohemian looking photographer. He delights to see the sweet bride holding tight a bunch of spring roses and the caring proud husband. The rural couple begins to play like two cubs but regains their composure after an unfortunate accident. This short part of the movie got lodged in my mind for the beauty of the lightness in the couple’s hearts, deeply in love. F. W. Murnau directed this four minute scene to emphasize the return of their happiness as a playful dance where love swirls around joyful as a sparrow at sunrise.
Word count: 196
Being understandable and impressive is the greatest challenge for silent films, it requires to be very talented and creative either for actors or for directors. In the movie “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans” both director F.W. Murnau and actor playing husband, George O’Brien, coped with their tasks splendidly. The scene of returning the husband home after he decided to kill his wife became the most memorable for me. All movements and mimicry on the man’s face expressed grim determination about murder and the fear at the same time. The movements were jerky, he was frowned, round-shouldered with his lowering head, the steps were heavy, it seemed the color of his face became dark, but there was fair and horror about future crime in his eyes, while he was covering bundles of reeds. The scene lasted about two minutes and took all my strained attention. Ominous music and surrounding views (black veil on the tree, black shadows on the wall) supplemented effect. The movie is filled by symbols: black color embodies negative moments and persons (lady from the city always worn black dresses). The brilliant work of actors and director helped me to feel the same emotions as the main characters. The greatest masters of silence film, they knew how to make audience laugh and cry.
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans March,9,2o14
The most memorable scene in the silent film was the boat scene and the moments leading up to it. The wife becomes over joyed when her husband tells her they are going for a boat ride. Almost as if one act of romance has completely irradiated all prior problems within their marriage. Her face gushes with happiness, never could she imagine her husbands kind gesture was anything but loving. They get into the boat and the dog begins to bark continuously, seeming to try and warn her about her husbands sinister intentions. As he paddles away in a very quick manner with his head down, he begins to get a murderous look in his eyes. He slowly moves toward her, she puts her hands together and pleads with him not to harm her. A look of pure shame comes over his face, he buries his arms around his head. Seeming to indicate absolute disgust with himself for even considering killing his innocent wife. This scene of the silent film is very powerful and sets of the rest of the film beautifully.
-190 words
After watching “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans” on Friday, the most memorable scene was when the man decided to murder his wife by drowning her at about twenty-four minute of the movie. First, he told his wife that they are going to a trip and the music became oppressive. It told the audiences what was going to happen which provides a nervous and stressful feeling for the scene. The man hid reeds in the boat and started to row the boat. The behaviour of the man hiding reeds gave audience a slight hint. Meanwhile, slowly leading the scene to its climax. Suddenly, the dog was barking and jumping into the water to chase the man and his wife. The dog’s reaction had clearly indicated the man’s purpose. However, the climax of this scene was at about thirty-one minute. The man was approaching his wife and pushing her to the corn of the boat. He was ready to drown her, but he changed his mind in last moment and became a gentle and loving person. It is because he saw his wife’s terrifying face.
The substitute showed “Don’t be afraid of me”. The man’s love toward his wife defeated the mistress. This scene is really important because it demonstrates a huge internal conflict of the man. It is the most splendid scene of the movie. If the man made a different choice on the boat then the movie could be totally different. Therefore, the scene is a significant turn in the course of events. - Around 230 words
After watching " Sunrise: A song of Two Humans", my favorite memorable scene is the wedding ceremony. (The orchestra is continue playing soft music) The husband and wife sit quietly on the second row of the bench to watch the wedding ceremony. The calm priest faces to the congregation, the bride and the groom; the priest announces the exchange vows by the couple, the groom promises his bride to” love” and “protect” her.” It is a magical moment, the camera zooms closely at the unfaithful husband, and his face shows his sorrow, guilt, shame and tiny tear on his left eye. He slowly puts his head down and down on his innocent wife’s knees to beg for a chance again. She hugs him tightly and touches his hair softly that it gestures “I forgive you.” It is none explanation of feeling of love. It is the connection of true love. The husband and wife embrace their new life together. In my view, F.W. Murnau demonstrates this scene to suit the title of the film well: “Sunrise” refers to start it over and "A song "is the decision of "Two Humans.” Morality at the wedding scene stays in my mind.
--199 Words
After watching "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans", one of the most memorable scenes to me is a three-minute scene, which takes place after a "sudden storm" that causes the boat to begin sinking. F. W. Murnau arranges the order of the scenes in order to tell the story, the Man tires the two bundles of reeds (they are gathered by the woman from the city) around the Wife; the boat's capsizing is not a premeditated accident, but it is truly an unfortunate accident! The Man is lying on the rocky shore without his wife, which is similar to his former plan. Where is the Wife? This sudden and mysterious scene keeps the audience in suspense. In the meanwhile, Murnau makes the film more suspiciously by Use of Camera: Extreme Close-Up at the Man's guilty face (he placed two bundles in the boat earlier), Close-Up at the moment when the Man hugs the crying Wife, Long Shot at the boat which is capsizing mercilessly and High Angle at the heartbroken Man who awakes and begins to get agitated about the missing of his wife. This three-minute scene is clear and meaningful, after an emotional rollercoaster, the song of a man and a woman gets back on track finally.
-208words
Today in class we watched a movie called "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans." After going home there is one scene that is glued to my mind. The clip that is most memorable to me can be found within 42-43 minutes and 20 seconds, the scene is taken place in a beautiful church with a small quiet wedding is being held. In this scene the man, and his wife sit quietly in the back couple rows of the church watching, while the man seems to be hypnotized by the ministers words of vows. When the minister says "God is giving you, in the holy bonds of matrimony, a trust. She is young... and inexperienced. Guide her and love her...Keep and protect her from all harms. Wilt thou lover her?" The man began shacking his head crazily because, he has notice that he has not kept that promise to his wife, and that he will retry. A few seconds after you can see the look in his eyes change, and instead of disgust, their is lust, and love in them again, and with devastation he begins to weep into his wife's lap. I think this is a beautiful scene because, it shows you in the hardest, and most awkwardest times, you can replenish, and repair your love for one another.
-220
The movie “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans” by F.W. Murnau is one of the oldest movies that was created in 1927. It includes many great scenes played by George O’Brian and Janet Gaynor as a couple and the city woman as a mistress (side chick). My favorite and memorable scene was, when the couple, George and Janet went to the Church to watch the swearing ceremony. That scene made a significant change to George’s way of thinking towards protecting of his wife. He was ashamed of what he did to his wife, almost taking her life. As the grooms and brides did their swearing ceremony, George’s eyes started tearing. The evil, city woman convinced him to kill his wife, however; he was a good hearted man. At the Church, he learned that husbands are supposed to protect their wives because they are “Young and inexperienced” the pope said. The wife decided to forgive him for his indecent act and start a new beginning. Therefore, this scene was my favorite and it made the wife forgive him and have a happy life together.
186 words
Mateen Aminie
Delshad Amini
" Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans" is the movie with a lot of extraordinary scenes. One of
the most remarkable scene was when the man ,protagonist, came back from his
rendezvous where he had flirted with his mistress, and had promised her to kill his
wife.When the man came into the bedroom where his wife had slept on her bed, his
scary,horrible shadow fell on his wife's bed. He is hunched because of his feeling of
guilt. Sneaking stealthily to his bed. He is really tired because of his murderous plot. As
he falls asleep exhausted, he imagines water flowing over him, the water in which
intends to drown and murder his wife. Indeed, his own spirit is drowning in the water.
This sequence finishes with sounds of the church's bells which is a symbol of death. In
contrast, we can see another scene of that movie which has a lot of similarity with the
first one. In this part , the man came back from the boat journey across the lake where
he lost his wife because of flurry. He came into the bedroom. He is ruined. He is
hunched again. His back is bent because of the grief of a man whose wife has drowned.
Also, we can see his grief-stricken shadow on his wife's,empty bed. This scene finishes
with the church's bells sound again.
229 words
march 11, 2014
“What an incomparable movie and performance it is!” I was totally shocked after I watched “Sunrise” produced in 1927. Especially I was attracted by the heroine after she jumped off the train. She wore a long skirt and a soft round cap, which were both light-colored. Her dress was completely different from “the woman from the city” whose clothes were black. The director used the color of clothes to describe “the woman” was kind and gentle contrasting to the other’s evil. When “the man” caught up with her, she was too sad and scared to stand. “The man” carried her; she turned and didn’t look at him, closing her eyes, keeping silent. Due to running and fear, she exhaled and her shoulders were shaking. When “the man” carried her to a restaurant, she looked down, huddled up with her hands crossing on the chest, and shifted slowly. When she tried to get a piece of bread, she turned her face to the audience. She looked like a frightened deer while her eyes were full of horror. She finally couldn’t help crying and left the restaurant without eating anything. In this scene, Janet Gaynor showed the audience a desperate, pathetic, and helpless wife that would stick in my mind for a long time.
——212 words
In the silent movie, "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans", only one of its many scenes stayed with me over the weekend until now. It was scene when the chef began to secretly drink out of the bottle which I could only guess as something alcoholic or more specifically wine. When all of a sudden, he spotted an escaped pig running into the kitchen; in surprise he dropped the bottle. The bottle spilled all of its contents onto the floor allowing the escapee to drink. The drunk pig immediately reacted by losing its balance and the ability to concentrate on where to put its legs. It made me ponder as to how the alcoholic beverages affect a human's concentration, balance as well as their thinking. That scene showed the truth behind drinking illegally since the chef wasn't allowed to consume anything returned by the customers; hence he focused only on trying to steal a sip, not on his work (nor the pig). Thus, this scene affected me strongly due to its logical truth behind drinking, if one could only see it.
181 words
After watching “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans”
F.W. Murnau’s silent movie ”Sunrise : A Song of Two Humans” gave me an clear image of a man
harassed by temptation of a woman. A few minutes after the movie started, a peasant appears
sitting at a table waiting for his wife to prepare dinner. While fixing dinner, she seems content
with her husband. He is the head of the household and manages the family’s farm. She is
wearing simple clothes, whereas the vacation girl is brilliant with shiny high heels, short skirt
reaching above the calf, tightened waist, and modern style short hair. When he hears the
whistle from outside, he recognizes it is her. A character of “straying man between two
woman” can be found easily today. The peasant’s wife brings two sets of utensils, plates, and
soup to share with him. There is a big light stand on the table as if it is blessing the couple.
Looking outside and at the dinner table in turn, the peasant’s mind travels back and forth
hesitating in making a decision. This scene is not only the peasant’s but also of all who lives this
world, where temptation surges over. Murnau’s elaborate technique fills the audience with vast
sympathy.
200 words
Walk Through a Garden
“Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans” has moved me a lot, literally to tears. Even though it was the first silent film I have ever seen, I do not regret that. As I was watching it, my emotions were riding a rollercoaster during the story. For me, the most memorable scene is from 44:45 to 46:05. In this scene the couple exits the church after re-finding their love and walks across a street looking into each other’s eyes. For a few moments the street disappears and is replaced by a garden with flowers and trees. The Man and The Wife kiss, not paying attention to what is happening around them. The garden fades away and the two characters are in the street again. Around them the traffic stops, both cars and coaches. We can see angry drivers honking their horns, trying to get the couple out of their way. The first part represents the moment, when we are in love. The moment, when nothing else matters and everything seems beautiful like a garden. Then in some occasions we have to wake up, forced by other people who see love as a useless thing. Overall, I like this scene because it affected my feelings.
203 words
After watching " A Sunrise Of two Humans" the first word came out of my mouth was "WoW". As Mr.Brad said, this film has been chosen to be the fifth best film in the world; i thought it deserved to be the first one. It was such a romantic and a beautiful silent film i ever seen. moreover,for me it ad so many memorable scenes but, i need to choose only one. The most memorable scene which i can't forget was, when lost his wife in the water after that frightened storm in the sea. He was very sad, panic, irritated, and worried as he thought he lost his wife forever. Thus, he planning to get ride of his wife at the begging by following his lust towards other women from the city. But, after he found out his wife is the only innocent and important person in his life who he loved, he felt lost, lonely, and guilty. Therefore, after the city women found out tat the man's wife is dead, she came to him to ask him to sell the house and come with her to the city. As he was very mad about losing his wife, so he tried to shock her and it seemed he was blaming her for losing his wife. Although, his wife was alive at the end of the story. This 95 minutes film was very touchy and sensitive. I have never cried by watching any type of film but, this movie made my tears fall down from my eyes; even though there was no conversation nor any exchange of words between the characters.
The most memorable scene from the "Sunrise, A Song of Two Humans" is the scene toward the end of the movie.After the whole village looked for "The Man's" wife after the storm has passed.Two villagers lead the grief stricken man to his house. The old woman wails while holding his baby in her arms as the man is in shock that his wife is gone.The way he enters his and her room with his shoulders down and heavy walk, falling down on his knees, head on her bed and weeping fallowed with that sad and mournful music speaks volumes.The man probably regrets going to the city at all. Sound of the bell and whistling sound disrupts the mournful morning. "The City Woman"is calling the man and as he recognizes her his face changed. The man opened the bedroom door, holding his hands into fists,with heavy breathing and distraught face.The city woman came toward him but after seeing him with closed fists and distraught face she started to ran away from him as she realized that the man had regretted everything and that he loves his wife.
After Watching F.W. Murnau’s silent film “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans”, the scene on the boat when the husband finally settles down the dog and sets off to the city, along with the church bell peals, hovers over my memory.
The wife is so confused about the way how her husband leashes the dog again. While the boat is released from the bollard, first time the church bell is striking, giving the wife a reminding. The husband paddles so slow that the audience can perceive the fire and struggle in his heart. His eyes are filled with evil. At the same time, the wife upsets and looks around. The sky is overcast and vain, except a fat flock of birds flying over the water in panic. She peeks at her husband carefully to figure out inside of her husband’s mind. When the husband horribly walks to her, she stares him with trembling, like a frightened bird, helplessly leans her body almost on the water. She begs poorly. At this emergent time, the church bell rings again, rousing the husband from the evil. He strokes the boat fast cross the river. The wife feels exhausted and covers her eyes. The church bell peal is a very important setting in this film, pointing the changing time of every climax.
--218 words
In the 1927 film “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans” directed by F.W. Murnau, I was struck most strongly by the scene where the mans “wife sits alone”. This scene shows us a woman who clearly is aware of the indiscretions her husband has been taking part in with the city woman, as well as deeply hurt by them. The wife is dressed in a plain but functional dress as a contrast to how over done the city woman's clothing is. As well as with the pompous attitude that the city woman radiates. When the scene starts, the wife laboriously pushes herself up using the table and chair she was sitting in as a crutch. Her doing this with her head drooped forward on her chest clearly indicates the crushing despair that she feel's, watching her husband be seduced away from her. Much in the way she simply walks away from the meal that she has prepared for the man she loves, is he walking away from her. In this short scene Murnau successfully provides us with a strong sense of the wife's state of mind as well as the mental agony that she is subjected to. Word count: 197
The most impressive scene in the film “Sunrise” is the reconciliation between the couple in the train. It doesn’t enlighten me well why she forgives her husband so easily. Despite the husband tried to kill her just a while before. Honestly, this film seems a bit unkind for me. The silent film has limitations of expression so getting everything across to an audience is very difficult. In the same situation, modern films will explain valid reason. In other ways, its dramatic reverse could help that people’s imagination runs free, and they may understand movies by their own ways. Good woman always good, Bad woman always bad in this movie. It is not realistic at all, because every human has diverse and complex character. This movie is quite simple like apologues or children’s fairy tale books, very didactic, and old fashioned. Also the husband’s character is so annoying, unnatural. But I like directing, background music and movie effects. Music help to explain what character want to talk instead of dialogue. Especially, when husband find drowned his wife, a wind instrument sound replaces his yell. It’s tactful.
-194 words
The most memorable scene of the movie "A Song of Two Humans" to me is when the wife is sitting on the boat with her husband. “The man” is sitting on one side of the boat his head is down and he is moving the boat with oars as hard as he can and he is trying not to make any eye contact with his wife. “The wife” however is over joyed; she's bending her head with a smile on her face trying to cheer him up. After a few minutes comes the dog jumping into the water to get into the boat. The man shows no interest in taking the dog for the trip; he turns the boat around to return the dog to the house. While the man is gone the wife is terrified by her husband's action and she gets this rush of fear and mixed emotions on her face she grabs her things and tries to leave. After a few seconds, she has a smile on her face again (almost as if she doubts her bad feeling about this trip). This scene repeats although this time the man is coming towards her with his head down and it looks like it's too late for her to leave or to think twice about trusting him so she goes on the trip of her life!
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