The Holiday

Mise-en-scene

Setting

The first scene is of an old fashioned couple set in the past. This suggests to the audience that this is going to be a classic romantic film. The voice over by the main character, Iris, sets the story line up and tells the audience what the film is mainly about: love. While she is talking lots of the main characters are introduced as she explains their relationship background. This means that the audience can know what’s happening at the beginning of the film.

Body language

When Iris and Jasper are talking in her office their body language is very different. Jasper looks quite relaxed and open as he is leaning against the door frame with his hand in his pocket. However Iris is sitting down with her hands in her lap and arms crossing her body. This suggests that she feels uncomfortable and enclosed. When she picks up the present that she has got for Jasper her shoulders are hunched and her arms are still across her body. This body language is very different from when we saw her talking to her work colleague earlier in the film. She seems a lot more laid back and calm. This shows the different relationships she has with the different characters.

Lighting

The first scene is outside and the neutral green of the leaves and the white of their clothes are striking. The foreground lighting is bright but the setting is softly muted to give a dream like effect. This could reflect the film plot by suggesting that it will be light hearted and laid back. The background is blurred and the light on the water contributes to making a perfect scene.

The scene with Amanda, played by Cameron Diaz, in the car has quite dark lighting and it is at night. However her face is lit as she is a significant character and wants to be memorable. These two scenes are contrasting as they reflect the mood of the characters. The first, romantic scene, has an idyllic background to illustrate a perfect situation, whereas the scene leading towards the disintegration of their relationship has the hard everyday environment of a car with its associations of traffic and fumes.   

Costume

The first scene is of a couple who look quite old fashioned. Their costumes evoke the feeling of romance and classic elements. The delicate lace of the female character’s dress gives an appearance of gentleness and softness.  

In the scene when Amanda and her boyfriend are in the car their costumes are contrasting colours. This demonstrates that they are very opposite and are not right for each other. Amanda’s boyfriend is wearing black which suggest that he has done something wrong so therefore they should not be together. 

Camera shots

The first camera shot seen in The Holiday is a mid shot of an old fashioned romantic couple. This suggests that the film has a classic love plot in which romance is the theme. However the shot then zooms out to show that one of the main characters, played by Jack Black, is playing background music for the scene on a keyboard. This is unexpected and suggests that this is not the typical romantic film.

A lot of mid shots are used in the first few scenes as the characters are being established to the audience. This means that in each scene the way in which the camera is positioned is very similar to the next.

When Iris, one of the main characters, and her work colleague are having a conversation over the shoulder shots are used. This shows their facial reactions to what the other has said so the audience can understand how each of them is feeling. The camera switches quickly between the two people having a conversation so that the audience can see it progress.

A pan shot is then used to show Iris, at her desk working. This suggests that she is quite a strung up character as she is working whilst everyone else is at the Christmas party.

When Iris is talking to Jasper Bloom who is her love interest at the beginning of the film high and low angles are used to show their statuses in society. As Iris is sitting down the camera has a high angle shot of the view of Jasper. This suggests he thinks she is small and insignificant, whereas Jasper is standing and Iris is looking up at him. This makes him look powerful and in control.

Editing

The first editing used is when the camera fades in to the old fashioned couple at the beginning. This is a slow process which gradually sets the scene of the pale leaves in the background. This adds to the calm atmosphere.

The camera then zooms out to show what is actually happening and that the clip is not real. This is not a transition as they may have wanted to make it clear that this clip wasn’t part of the film.

A wipe transition is then used to show the next scene. This links the scenes well as it changes between them gradually.

The transitions used seem to be quite simple but effective. This may be as they didn’t want to detract from the story line at the beginning of the film. This means that the audience can concentrate purely on the characters and their back stories.

Sound

Throughout the first few scenes of the film there is non-diegetic mood music and a voice over by one of the main characters played by Kate Winslet. She talks about different kinds of love and her experiences with men. She quotes Shakespeare, ‘journeys end in lovers meeting’. This introduces the theme of love and is a quote that the audience may be familiar with. As Kate Winslet is talking about her previous relationships the female audience may feel they relate to her as lots of people have been in the same situation. This means that the audience may like her right at the beginning. The classical music suggests that it is a classic romantic film and adds impact to the idea of love.

The keyboard which Jack Black is playing at the beginning of the film changes from being asynchronous to synchronous sound. The synchronous sound of the keyboard is projected. This creates an atmosphere and contributes to realism.

A sound bridge is used all the way through the first few scenes. This adds continuity and makes the scenes flow better together causing them not to seem interrupted.

The first conversation in the film is between iris and her work colleague. In this conversation you find out the story of Jasper and Iris’s past. This is diegetic dialogue which shows how deeply in love she is.