Film essay

The adjustment bureau directed by George Nolfi is about David, a politician who falls in love with Elise who’s a professional dancer, but there relationship gets interrupted by the adjustment officers. The adjustment officers will determine the fate of Elise and David. But the couple fights hard to change the path that it is going on. George Nolfi used three film techniques, sound, lighting aswell as the setting to communicate the idea of fate and free will.

The film technique lighting has been used by the directer in the scene to help show the emotion that the characters are feeling. When David and Elise are running away from the adjustment officers the lighting is low-key and darker. Their emotion is scared and nervous because they don’t want to be caught by the adjustment officers. As they come out onto the balcony the clouds and sky are very dark. They are surrounded by the adjustment officers on the balcony, so they share a passionate kiss thinking its gonna be their last time they see each other. Once they finish the kiss and open up their eyes. To their surprise the officers have disappeared. The lighting changes from the dark cloudy sky to sun rising over the city. When the lighting changes so does the mood which lifts and is more happy. The directer has used this lighting change to help show the emotion of what the characters are feeling. This then gives the audience a closer look into the characters to see how they’re feeling. Lighting is connected to the idea of free will and fate because as the lighting changes from low key to high key the officers disappear from around them. This means that Elise and Davids fate is not going to be changed because the officers who found them to seperate them are now gone.

Sound has been used by the directer to create suspense, which gives the viewer an uncertainty of whats about to happen. There are many dramatic and exciting moments in the scene where where the music and sound helps change the mood. When David and Elise are on the roof top surrounded by the officers the music is dramatic and emotional which shows that Elise and David don’t really have a clue of whats just about to happen to them. When they kiss it changes to a more sad sound because they think it will be the last time they see each other. When the characters are nervous it creates a tension, and the viewers watching this feel the same emotions. All the parts of the scene where they are being chased by the officers the music and sound has a dramatic effect. But all the parts where the officers are not to be seen the sound is up beat and happier. This communicates the idea of fate and free will because the adjustment officers have control of Elise and davids life so by changing the sound from suspending to happy and upbeat when the officers leave. This shows that they have been set free and the officers are no longer in control. So they have fought hard enough for what they have wanted the whole time.

In the film the directer has used the scene and setting to display many things about the characters. When they are all on the roof of the building its shows the whole view of the city. This shows that they are alone and isolated. Not havering any places to go because the entrance to the building is blocked by the officers and they cant jump off the building. Being on top of the building shows that they have less opportunities and that they are less in control of their fate. Like i said before they have no where to go because they are surrounded. When the officers leave, David and Elise are walking down the street with shops everywhere, along with all these different people. They have many different places they can go, with all these opportunities opening up. The directer has used the top of the building to show they are in less control and they are more isolated. But when they are walking down the street they get opened up to a wide range of places, shops and people that they can talk to. This shows that they have free will because they can walk or talk to any one and anything.

In conclusion the film The Adjustment Bureau directed by George Nolfi communicated free will and fate by using lighting, sound and the scene. He did this with lighting by changing it when the officers leave from low key to high key. Which showed that they were more happier when the officers weren’t there because they had there free will. The sound was used to draw the audience in with suspence and show that there was uncertency from David and Elise. When the sound changed from suspending to happy and up beat shows the free will that David and elise. The scene shows this two because when they are on top of the building they are more isolated and have less control compared to when the are in the streets there are many opportunities for them. I think that free will is important because everyone should be able to control the decisions that they make. Free will is also having self responsibility and being able to choose the direction your path is going on.