Spiral visuals are open to
interpretation (falling, hypnosis
etc)
works at a sub concious level
womans face suggests seduction
red filter: love, lust, danger
restaurant scene
long take of camera panning
over the restaurant
Nota:
scottie's search for perfection
focus on colour, scottie and
madelaine stand out on red
background
Nota:
madelaine is green on red ( envy & lust)
follows madelaine from
scotties POV - shows his lust
first meeting of Judy
green car - shows sickness
lots of close on Scotty -
show emotions
repeats framing of Madelaine in restaurant
Nota:
Judy stands in the same places as madelaine, including standing in front of a mirror - hints that Judy is Madelaine
camera is scotties perspective
department store scene
Judy's perspective
scottie seems overpowering
Judy dressed in green - scotties illness
sat at same lever - they are equal
"you want me to dress like her" - obsession
key themes
obsession
obsessed with madelaine
leads to him being a control freak to Judy
shown in department store scene
freudian theories
ID, ego and Superego
Nota:
ID is the subconcious desires
super ego is the concious
ego is the sense of self
Three shown in opening scene
Id is criminal, super ego is the policeman, ego is scottie
Neurosis
caused by his vertigo
leads to all his other aspects
- obsession, guilt, etc
Guilt
guilt from being
unable to help
policeman
can remove guilt by helping
madelaine
guilt returns after
madelaines death
Critical reception
changed from a critical flop
to one of the most
successful films ever
controversy over
representation of women
Nota:
camera is used to show how women are represented in society
no longer profound about society
complex plot stops people appreciating
other portions of the film