Analyze how film techniques were used to present an idea in the text.

The film Fargo by the Coen brothers uses specific film techniques to present to the reader the idea of greed. To present this idea the Coen brothers used these film techniques. Lighting, costume and dialogue to display to the viewer the idea of greed.

Lighting was used in the film to display characters certain characters as greedy. the term greedy is defined as “intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food”. An example of when the lighting was used to portray the characters as greedy was the scene was when Jerry met with Carl and Gaear in the pub and he was shown with only half his face illuminated. The lighting was used on Jerry shows a dodgy side of jerry represented by the shadow on half his face to show he is hiding part of who he is. Jerrys face is half covered in shadow to hide from others who he is. He choices to hide his as revealing it would also reveal his intentions which would spoil his plans to earn money. The Coen brothers chose to portray Jerry like this as by him choosing to hide who he is as well as his intentions it demonstrates that Jerry’s priority is money above being honest and transparent. This demonstrates that Jerry is a greedy person as he has a selfish desire for money which fits the definition of greed. This shows that Jerry is a greedy person.

Costume was used throughout the film to show there relative positions and how the difference displays greed. In the film when we are first introduced to Wade he is wearing a dark red overcoat as well as a dark purple jumper underneath. The dark colours are chosen because we as readers associate the dark colours of the clothes he is wearing to royalty. This tells us that wade is a character with lots of money and power. Jerry introduced to us wearing a light brown jacket and a black hat. These are simple colours used to show a lack of sophistication and therefore less wealth and power. The character Wade despite being family with Jerry choices not to share his wealth with Jerry and instead keep it to himself. Wade is so obvious that he will not share his money with Jerry that Jerry decides he must take illegal methods to get money. Wade’s insistence to keep his own money and not share it with his family actually makes him become a greedy man as he choices to keep hold of his abundance of money and not help his family. This demonstrates that wades selfish desire to keep the money to fits the definition of greed making him a greedy man.

Dialogue was used throughout the film to display to the reader the idea of greed. When he is offered the finders fee from wade he says this. ” No, see, I don’t need a finder’s fee, I need a… finder’s fee’s, what, ten percent? Heck, that’s not gonna do it for me. I need the principal!”. Jerry’s sentences are short showing his thoughts aren’t clear and concise as they would be if he was comfortable and talking his time. This suggests to the reader that the offer for only the finders fee was not what he had expected and as a result gave him a fright. This is because for him 10% is significantly smaller than the principal and he will not be happy with only 10%. This displays to the reader that his greed is clouding his judgment so much that when he is offered only the 10% he continues to argue until he is completely cut out of the deal. This displays to the reader that for Jerry a little bit of money is not good enough and he is willing to potentially lose his 10% for the chance to have the whole thing even when it is almost certain he won’t get it. This is not a normal human response as most would take the 10% this shows that Jerry is greedy because he chose to make that decision. The Coen brothers choice to display him like this to reinforce that his intense pursuit of money makes him a greedy man by ensuring he fits the definition of greed.

In conclusion, The film Fargo directed by the Coen brothers uses the film techniques of lighting, costume and dialogue to demonstrate to the reader the idea of greed.