The reproduction of European classical style

Nyasia 2022-03-22 09:01:35

"Barry Lyndon" is majestic and elegant at the same time. Kubrick's biography in the form of an "epic film" is considered a breakthrough and innovation in his past work career. But if it's just a form of innovation, the status of "Barry Lyndon" is no more than that. However, Kubrick used the theme of biography to record the European style of the classical period, which is the excellence of the film.

Therefore, "Barry Lyndon" is not entirely a character biopic. On the one hand, the characters are fictional after all; on the other hand, the characters are not the real focus, but Kubrick's film clues, linking an era through the protagonist's point of view . This can explain why the movie has never focused on portraying Barry Lyndon's character, so that the character's personality is slightly changeable.

The director focused on recording the style of an era, so the film took the trouble to use all kinds of slow motion to capture various details of the nobility in the classical era, including clothing style, architectural design, behavior and so on. At the same time, through the classical soundtrack, the elegance of that era is rendered to the greatest extent. Through careful lens composition, every frame of the film is turned into an "oil painting" in a shot.

Some people may say that history records the events of the nobility, and Kubrick is no exception. Of course, Kubrick also mentioned a little about the glory of the nobility, which was exchanged for the sacrifice of various little people in the war. Life itself is full of all kinds of inequalities, and at the same time of anger or helplessness, the elegance of the aristocracy cannot be denied in a word. This historical contradiction remains unchanged, so Kubrick's shots are still calm and without any emotion.

Behind Barry Lyndon is a huge era. This era is either elegant or tragic. Fortunately, the audience can feel the historical style of the past through Kubrick's film works. This is the greatest value of the film and the important value of film art.

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Extended Reading
  • Taurean 2022-03-25 09:01:06

    Emotionally favorite Kushen's work, this kind of slow and beautiful is completely irresistible.

  • Laurianne 2022-03-24 09:01:37

    The effect of the legendary F0.7 lens. Like "Spartacus", there is a "intermission", I don't know if it was intentional or that era needed to be off. A lot of close-up to long-range shots, I heard that the precise but boring composition is to satirize the boredom of the upper class. To recommend, I have not yet understood Kubrick enough~

Barry Lyndon quotes

  • Narrator: [voice-over] It is well to dream of glorious war in a snug armchair at home, but it is a very different thing to see it first hand. And after the death of his friend, Barry's thoughts turned from those of military glory to those of finding a way to escape the service to which he was now tied for another six years. Gentlemen may talk of the age of chivalry, but remember the ploughmen, poachers and pickpockets whom they lead. It is with these sad instruments that your great warriors and kings have been doing their murderous work in the world.

  • Redmond Barry: Sir, I... I have a confession to make to you. I'm an Irishman. And my name is Redmond Barry. I was abducted into the Prussian army two years ago, and now have been put into your service by my Captain Potzdorf, and his uncle, the Minister of Police... to serve as a watch upon your... actions... and to give information to the same quarter.

    Narrator: [voice-over] The Chevalier was as much affected as Barry at thus finding one of his countrymen. For he too was an exile from home, and a friendly voice, a look, brought the old country back to his memory again.