MovieChat Forums > Fehér isten (2014) Discussion > Why the zoom-in on girl undressing?

Why the zoom-in on girl undressing?

posted 9 years ago by Amaru_wolfs-edge
4 replies | jump to latest

First, have to say the film was great - a great story with good messages about loneliness, rejection, cruelty and love on the surface, with very clever undertones. Beautifully shot, with some of the most incredible animal acting I've seen!

Granted it's only one scene, but I found it pretty odd when the lead is undressing for bed, and the director decides to zoom right in on her bare back. I mean it wasnt at all sexualised, I'm not shocked at the skin, it's just a bare back, but it just seemed a little bizarre to make such a point of it.

Was it to accentuate vulnerability, as a visual representation to show how she feels about her father, by turning away? Or was it just kind of a weird excuse to show her bare back?

[–] Steinway87 8 years ago

I noticed that too and I didn't see the point for that zoom either.

In a similar fashion, when she is putting on her skirt for the concert there is a mid-body, quite close-up shot of her while she's only wearing her underwear which I found to be unnecessary and out of place in a movie that deals so well with shot composition.

[–] barawlings 8 years ago

The reason for the rack focus is most likely due to the fact that Mundruczó likes to use this effect in his other films. I don't think it was meant to sexualize the girl.

[–] Steinway87 8 years ago

Good point. I haven't seen his other films though.

[–] BQQ 8 years ago

There's no zooming in, just a change of focus from her father's face to her back.

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