The cinematography in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid solidifies the fact that despite their attempts at integrating back into society, Butch and Sundance are still held back by their social disorder.
The film starts off with Butch entering a bank and Sundance playing a game of blackjack. During the card game, the only person that is revealed is Redford. All others are out of focus or their faces are not shown. A confrontation occurs between Sundance and the other card player and the camera only shows him and the gun. Finally Butch shows up and kneels down next to Sundance. He is the only other character that is shown directly next to Sundance, suggesting that the two of them are on the same level of social class. Right away, the film tells us that their friendship is only something they understand and they coexist together on this same level.
Once they return to the Hole in the Wall farm, the next series of shots consist of extreme wide landscape shots with Butch and Sundance riding together. When they arrive to see the rest of the gang, there is still a major distance between all of the characters. This shows the type of world that they all live in. Every man is for himself and close, personal friendships are rare to come by. Everyone is appears to be alienated by society and must exist on their own accord.
This effect continues throughout the film. When Sundance and Butch have escaped the posse, they retreat back to the saloon in order to hide out. Suddenly the posse makes it way back and discover their location. The scene is extremely dark and little light is used to orient the audience as to what is happening. However, Butch and Sundance are shown in the same light and are often the only objects that can be seen.
The film concludes with their attempt at trying to settle down in Bolivia and get jobs like an average person. Yet, their social disorder inevitably rejects them from this as they continue to rob banks and actually kill people for the first time in the film. This is demonstrated by a much more conservative shooting style then the prior scenes. Butch and Sundance are shown in more public locations, with other people and with tighter shots. But regardless of what they do, the outlaw profile still succeeds within themselves, demonstrating that despite ones attempt at being average, someone's true nature will always show.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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