Strictly Ballroom Analysis Essay Example

characters such as Liz, Barry Fife, Fran and Shirley. Shirley is always forced to smile “I’ve got my happy face in today”, she has to restrain her true feelings and show how she relies on a mask to hide from the truth.

Liz displays herself as a bit of a drama queen “I’m not dancing with you until you dance the proper steps” and perfectionist.Barry Fife represents the corrupt face of commercialised dance. He is prepared to do anything to “win” through darl low=key lighting it suggests corruption of the authority in dance. The close up shots of Barry convey his authority and cruelty.

“You can dance any steps you’ll like, but that doesn’t mean you’ll.. win” this quote is said in his close up shot. When the ballroom dancers take the floor they seem to have a cake of foundation on their faces, eyebrows finely waxed with sparkles stuck around their eyelids and stiff bent fringes, this is the appearance of the female dancers.Through the use of bright, flamboyant costuming Baz Luhrmann is portraying the materialistic world, where appearances are more important than reality.

Cultural themes are central to the film mainly through Fran and her ethnic background. Fran’s family continue to live in their cultural Spanish tradition of respect, celebrations and passion. In a scene early on in the film Fran says to Scott “Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias”. Fran argues that Scott is letting fear rule his life, the use of Spanish language shows passion and foreshadows the influence the Spanish culture will have on Scott’s self-expression.In scene in the backyard with YaYa and Rico, Scott comes to accept

that he has left the artificial world of the dance federation behind him and gains further insight.

YaYa teaches Scott to dance with passion and from the heart. “Listen to the rhythm, don’t be scared”. He is encouraged to overcome conformity. In the end YaYa repeats this quote to encourage Scott and Fran to dance the steps they’d practiced so passionately. The film “Footloose” (1984) written by Dean Pitchford is largely related to “Strictly Ballroom”.

Footloose also presents a contrasting series of images. Positive relationships that exist in life and which also encourage freedom, passion and individuality, which are also linked to Scott and the things he has to gain. In “Footloose”, when Ren (Kevin Bacon) realised that the Character Ariel is watching him dance, he quickly puts back on the jacket he’d once removed in a break of freedom, This symbolizes that Ren once felt more restrained from the townspeople.This scene is similar to the scene we saw when Fran had discovered Scott dancing in the dark by himself. Both Ariel and Fran become life-changing partners.

Camera movement play an important role in creating the “feel” of the film. This is evident in “Strictly Ballroom” particularly is the dance sequences, the dynamic camera movements emphasis and enhance the dance routine of its main characters. The first dance sequence the camera movements are long flowing tracking and pan shots which emphasis the smooth graceful flow of the waltz being performed.This is contrasted to the quick steps of the Paso Doble. Throughout the film we learn ballroom dancing is about wanting success and power at no matter what cost including corruption, this portrayed when Barry Fife is

making a deal with Ken so Scott doesn’t win. Luhrmann displays image through different characters playing different roles, different cultures, personalities and varies dance steps.

Although dancing is not just going through steps but felt through the heart and moved through the rhythm