Now usually I would do a scene analysis on a Wednesday, but today I thought I’d switch things up and analyse small parts of the whole film, so enjoy!
Mirror Mirror is another adaption of Disney’s well-known tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Released in 2012, Lily Colins stars as our hero Snow White and Julia Roberts plays the famous role of the evil queen. In this version the evil queen keeps snow white locked away in the castle whilst she throws lavish parties and spares no expense. This money is coming from the villages that the queen rules over meaning they are poor and helpless. Snow White finds out what has happened to her father’s kingdom and decides to take it back. This angers the queen and she order for snow white to be killed. As Snow White is saved, she joins a band of dwarfs who are thieves and they decide to steal from the queen and give back to the villages. This version of the story is interesting as it not only includes the tale of Snow White but Cinderella and Robin Hood as well. This is shown early in the film as the queen throws a party which Snow White attends in disguise. She dances with the Prince and asks him to help her save the village before she can properly explain she is spotted by the queen and must make a quick exit. Robin Hood is incorporated when the dwarfs decided to steal from the rich and give to the poor as this is what Robin Hood is known for.
Narrative
This film covers many of the well know movie narratives. One of them being Todorov’s theory. Todorov saw that many movies followed the same structure being, equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium.
Mirror Mirror is no different as the equilibrium is Snow White lives in isolation in the castle, the disequilibrium occurs when she visits the village and acts out, she is almost killed by the queen but escapes, she find the dwarfs house and become part of their group and this becomes the new equilibrium. This narrative happens twice in this film. This is not uncommon in movies.
Mis-en-scene
Mise-en-scene is the arrangement of a scene. This is used very well in this film particularly in the scene where snow white first enters the village.
The village is dark and dirty. The villagers are dressed in dark colors mainly browns and whites that are very dirty. Snow White come into the scene in a bright yellow cloak, this shows that she is the light that will save the village.
Camera Angles
Camera Angles are vital in this film. Particularly during conversations between the Evil Queen and Snow White. In the beginning Low angles are used when the camera is focused on the queen as this makes her look powerful and more dominant. When the camera turns to Snow White high angles are used to make her look weak and vulnerable. However, after Snow White has visited the village the camera uses a low angle to make her look powerful and like a leader. This shows she is determined and ready to take her place on the thrown and be queen.
Contrast
The costumes used in this film is very authentic. They have large, elegant dresses that also help to set the scene. In the ball scene everyone else is dressed in white whilst the evil queen is dressed in red. This conveys that she truly is evil and makes her stand out from the crowd. Snow White is also wearing a white dress in this scene, this shows her purity and innocence and the contrast between the two characters. The set of the kitchen show how dirty the servant quarters of the castle is as well as how much it contrasts with the top of the castle that is pure white and spotless. This adds authenticity to the castle set as it shows the comparison of life for the royals and the staff.
Sound
Both Diegetic and non-diegetic sound is used in this film. As this is a fantasy filmed set long ago, it has many different music pieces all in the classical genre. The films score works well with indicating feeling in the scene. Whenever an establishing shot of the castle is used it the music is very grand as it is lavish like the castle. When the camera pans over the village the music changes to minor and is already set the tone of what we are to expect. When the king’s solider rides away and it pans to snow white riding back the music is grand and triumphant. All of these scores help to create a tone in a scene.
Diegetic sound are sounds that are part of the film. One example is the flock of ducks that the camera follows the ducks to pan over the forest. The sound lets the audience know that we are about to leave the location of the castle and head to the forest which is part of nature. Another sound is the noise of the village. There are various sound of coughing and crying this shows how poor and in pain the village is. This sets the scene and shows the audience how bad the situation of the village is.
Representation
Representation is this film is very important particularly with Snow White and the Evil Queen.
The famous character that is Snow White is represented as kind, pure, innocent and good hearted. This is indicated at the very begging of the film when she feeds a bird, a part of her apple at the begging of the scene. Her costumes such as the bright yellow cape, make her bright and the center, this shows she will be the light/ savior of the people and that she will bring color back to the village.
The Evil Queen has very big and bright dresses. They have many layers and are very grand. Many of her dresses are red and gold. The red of her dress indicates her true evilness as well as the anger she holds within her. The gold shows how she likes to live surrounded by luxurious things and only thinks of herself
Overall, I think that Mirror Mirror is a very good film that covers various forms of film theory and uses them well. I feel that it uses them very simply in places which makes them even more effective.
Cinema & Chapters by Peggy 