Light vs. Dark

In “The Godfather” the use of light and dark to accentuate the film is very evident. Whenever a Corleone is discussing a matter to do with their business there is dark lighting, which often contrasts with a bright scene. During the wedding at the beginning of the movie, shots are constantly switching between the bright, colourful, outdoor wedding and the dark office inside. Once again, this use of dark and light is seen when Hagen goes to visit Woltz. At Woltz’s studio Hagen pulls him aside into a dark corner to discuss Johnny with him, then walks out into the sunny outdoors. 

This use of Dark and light in the movie is very clear and helps the audience understand the Corleone’s business and lifestyle in more detail. Light can be used in a film to determine the mood and how the audience perceives different situations and characters. In the first scene the Don’s character is accentuated by light. There is a soft glow coming from behind him creating a halo around his head, this tells the audience that he is powerful. However, because the light is coming from behind him his whole face is quite dark which makes him hard to read, telling the audience that the Don is powerful with a dark side. This use of light in situations such as this is what adds to both the suspense and understanding of “The Godfather”. 

I believe that the use of dark and light in filming are going to be continually used throughout the film and it is something I am going to look for as we continue to watch the movie.