A few days back I saw Dead Man Walking. Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, and directed by Tim Robbins. When the film started the only thing I really noticed was the Indian back-ground music, and my mind was debating its efficacy. By the end, I realized this was probably one of the most sublime films I have ever seen. So beautiful, so deep. Since this post is not for those who have not seen the film I wont briefly narrate the story. It wont make a difference anyway, if I were to say its about capital punishment or that its about a nun and a death-row convict. Who ever truly understood a film just by reading someone else's feelings about it.
Some things I really loved. Susan Sarandon does not wear a habit. The whole deal about her not wearing one, the difference it made to her character was immense. She seemed much closer to everyone else, as if the habit is a pretext. She looked softer, more human. I don't think I would have cared much for this film had her character worn a habit. Those small parts in between where she is driving her car, thinking, and travelling by the fields outside. Her home, the children playing around. The close-ups in those key scenes between her and Penn, some of just the eyes. It is well known that close-ups are a great device to build tension, or any strong feeling for that matter. But to get the right expresssion, the right light, the right color, and keep it for the right duration, therein lies great storytelling. Great great storytelling. The balance of course. Noone is wrong, noone is fair. And finally, my favorite field, the photography. Deacins (Kundun, The Shawshank Redemption) painted. I don't know whether it was more of him or Robbins, but it doesn't matter. It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. That last track shot, from the chapel window moving back. Or the evening profile shot of her sitting in her armchair in her front porch. It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
It is very very rarely that i feel like crying while watching a film. But the part where Penn confesses to her, with a "Yes ma'am", and with her eyes and voice full of tears she tells him about dying with dignity. That made me want to sob. I never really dreamt I would want to sob for a rapist.
The music as I said, Indian classical. A piece by the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan also. In the beginning I was wondering, will this be suitable. By the end, and even now, I cant think of Dead Man Walking without that soft Indian background score. I really don't know why Robbins chose that kind of music. Maybe to suit a story as deep as this, I don't know. All I know, is I am fortunate I watched this film. Very fortunate.
Some things I really loved. Susan Sarandon does not wear a habit. The whole deal about her not wearing one, the difference it made to her character was immense. She seemed much closer to everyone else, as if the habit is a pretext. She looked softer, more human. I don't think I would have cared much for this film had her character worn a habit. Those small parts in between where she is driving her car, thinking, and travelling by the fields outside. Her home, the children playing around. The close-ups in those key scenes between her and Penn, some of just the eyes. It is well known that close-ups are a great device to build tension, or any strong feeling for that matter. But to get the right expresssion, the right light, the right color, and keep it for the right duration, therein lies great storytelling. Great great storytelling. The balance of course. Noone is wrong, noone is fair. And finally, my favorite field, the photography. Deacins (Kundun, The Shawshank Redemption) painted. I don't know whether it was more of him or Robbins, but it doesn't matter. It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. That last track shot, from the chapel window moving back. Or the evening profile shot of her sitting in her armchair in her front porch. It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
It is very very rarely that i feel like crying while watching a film. But the part where Penn confesses to her, with a "Yes ma'am", and with her eyes and voice full of tears she tells him about dying with dignity. That made me want to sob. I never really dreamt I would want to sob for a rapist.
The music as I said, Indian classical. A piece by the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan also. In the beginning I was wondering, will this be suitable. By the end, and even now, I cant think of Dead Man Walking without that soft Indian background score. I really don't know why Robbins chose that kind of music. Maybe to suit a story as deep as this, I don't know. All I know, is I am fortunate I watched this film. Very fortunate.
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