The Party
This film really implements the ironic theme from beginning to end, even the title is a pun, and even ambiguous. On the one hand, party means gathering, or the Chinese translation of the name "酒会"; on the other hand, party refers to the split of this small group; finally, the party is the corrupt and degraded representative of the heroine repeatedly mentioned in the film. Political parties, going deeper, are even more a satire of the entire British political system.
Black and white film
Why is it black and white? We can clearly see that the film has a strong stage color: a lot of dialogue, various metaphors of reality, and limited space. The black-and-white setting can highlight light and shadow and magnify the facial expressions of actors. Using some lighting techniques can also highlight the duality of the characters, the glamour on the surface and the hidden evils. All of the above can highlight the conflicts and strengthen the stage temperament of the film.
Unconventional aspect ratio
In the process of watching a movie, it is hard not to notice this: the film is a bit "wider" on the screen than a normal movie. Think about it. This aspect ratio can accommodate more characters, which is conducive to group play. When multiple characters appear in the screen, the audience can feel this intense, oppressive conflict.
Unconventional narrative
At the beginning of the movie, the door of a family was opened and an angry woman appeared. She pulled the trigger, and the picture came to an abrupt end. Then began the regular linear narrative. This suspense confuses the audience: who is she? Who is she going to kill? Why is she killing this person? The first question can be answered in the subsequent plot, and the last two questions are not revealed until the last scene of the film. Structurally, the beginning and the end echo, and the repetition of the screen shows the ingenuity of the script; in terms of content, the answer to the last scene constitutes the reversal of the plot, leaving room for aftertaste at the right end.
Details about the characters
Janet: She always likes to put her phone on the neckline of her shirt. In this way, she can access it in time. She wants to check her lover's information as soon as possible. At the same time, this slightly private location also minimizes the possibility of others peeping into her secrets.
Tom: In his conversation with Gottfried, he always emphasized that he is a winner. Perhaps the reason why he was angry about being green is not only because of his love for his wife, but also because the fact that he was green has cast a shadow of a loser on his elite setting.
Intermittent music
Why is it intermittent? Throughout the film, the director did not add a special soundtrack. All background music comes from Bill’s Blu-ray player. This can increase the viewability of the movie. As mentioned earlier, this kind of large dialogue indoor film can easily cause the audience's aesthetic fatigue. This is also the reason why "Twelve Angry Men" was written by God.
Political satire
The characters in the film cue to the political system from time to time. At this time, it is very important to combine the background of the times. "Reception" was released in 2017. Soon after the British referendum ended, the public's distrust of the government and even the system reached its peak. No wonder April said, "Not all disputes can be settled by voting."
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