German Expressionism
Edward Scissorhands vs. Donnie Darko
Edward Scissorhands and Donnie Darko are such good examples when talking about German Expressionism . Both films are extremely different, but using the same techniques. Both film have many similarities with the classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. In matter of the case set design, colour, camera techniques and sound are going to be the subjects. Edward Scissorhands (1990) Directed by Tim Burton. Donnie Darko (2001) Directed by Richard Kelly.
In Edward Scissorhands, most of the time the story happens in a pastel colors community, but the main character (Edward) used to live in a very dark and gothic style castle that is right in the end of one the streets in the community. The contrast between the two settings is to establish the huge difference in the characters as well as setting. The colorful community is boring, everything looks alike, and it goes to the cars as well, same model, same palettes of color as well as the characters clothes.
"Edward Weston" by Willard Van Dyke, 1938
Donnie Darko house west view
Donnie Darko house north viewEdward's castle is dark, and it is more to represent his individuality. For the fact that the castle is dark and is on the top of the hill it imposes a tone of threatening. Everything within the castle is about Edward personality; the garden and the inside of the castle give away some important information about Edward. The Garden: there is where is showed Edward's soul. He made everything in the garden, and it all is beautiful and colorful. In the castle everything is super gloomy. Even before get in the inside there is the door handle it is way to big and it is in a different shape. Inside the castle everything have a different shape as usually would be, the windows are too big but do not bring enough...