This is the ‘ice dance scene’ in Edward Scissorhands. This scene is a piece of art and one of the most mezmorizeing moments in the film ‘Edward Scissorhands’. To make a scene like this there are lots of aspects that have to be thought through. One of these are Mise-en-scene.
LIGHTING
At the beginning of this scene, Kim is lit by very bright and overpowering artificial lights from her lounge. The director could’ve used this to show how Kim’s life is almost fake. The lighting illuminated her dress in a very bright and again, artificial light. Almost like she’s made out of plastic. Again linking back to the fake life.
When Kim steps outside, there is a short moment of immediate darkness. Suddenly, there’s light again. However, this light is much more angelic and real. Like a moonlight. Tim burton could have used this to show that when she steps out of her artificial life, she sees how dark the world can be. However, when she sees Edward, he lights up her life but in a different more real way and helps her see and experience things she never would’ve before. As well as that, Kim is angelically illuminated which could suggest that Edward views her as an angel or the love and light he gives her almost turns her into a pure, beautiful angel where as before she was like a fake doll (linking back to the artificial light). Everything behind Kim is darker though - this could show that Kim is the light of Edwards life and again it links back to the dark world outside Edwards light.
When we see Edward, much like Kim, he is illuminated angelically. The ice figure of an angel which could be portrayed as Kim is lighting him up. This again shows how they both light up eachovers lives. Whilst Kim is dancing, the snow is glistening and sparkling giving a surreal and fantastical effect.
Immediately when Jim enters the scene, darkness surroundes him showing he has no light and is almost evil or heartless. Tim Burton wanted to show the contrast between the lighting of Edward and Jim to help excagerate how different they are.
COSTUME
Kim is wearing white throughout the scene. White represents purity and innocence. It could also suggest perfection. When in the artificial light, Kim’s dress looks like plastic. However, when in Edwards light, it appears angelic. This shows the two different ‘Kim’s’ : The fake plastic cover and the angelic, free and real Kim that only Edward can truly see.
Edwards clothing that he has been given by the community is torn and ripped from him making the ice sculpture and being his true self. As he sculptures, the clothes become more and more torn and show his original clothing underneath. This could be his true self slowly emerging under this ‘fake’ clothing . His original clothing are also darker (contrasting Kim) and his given clothing is white. Maybe showing he’s truly darker then everyone perceives him to be.
HAIR AMD MAKEUP
Kim’s makeup is traditional, yet natural. It shows Kim’s beauty and this idealistic idea of how others want her to look i.e red lips, good features, blonde hair etc. Her hairstyle is pulled back from her face to help show off her features and it’s almost a youthful hairstyle. It helps show Kim’s innocence and purity, again linking back to the previous idea that Kim is an angel.
SETTING
The setting is the mundane garden of Kim’s family. Edward looks very out if place in the middle. Yet, although he is out of place, he is putting something beautiful into their garden which could also expand into putting something beautiful into the family’s lives. In the background, if you look closer, you can see the bushes in which Edward has designed. This links back to how Edward has effected the community.
PROPS
Edward is on a ladder and very high up whilst wobbling when shaping the sculpture. It helps show he is brave and will do anything for Kim. This links back to the idea about how they will do anything for each over. On this ladder, it also shows how fragile Edward actually is and it makes the audience feel sympathy for Edward amd view him as a small child again.
CHARACTER EXPRESSION AND MOVEMENT
At the beginning, Kim is completely memorised by what Edward has created and is taken away by the utter beauty that he has created. She had never see this ‘snow’ before which implies Edward has showed Kim new things. Whilst dancing, Kim is smiling and is completely comfortable being free and herself around Edward whilst Edward himself is concentrating hard on continuing what is making Kim happy. Kim’s character expression and movement completely contrasting to her being scared, uncomfortable and nervous around Edward whom is trimming carefully amd is trying very hard to just see Kim happy. He loves her. As well as that, there is a close up of Edwards scissor hands trimming carefully away at the ice angel. Immediately after, Kim’s soft, human hand is shown catching the snowflakes. Again, this shows the contrast between the two characters and how Edward will never truly fit in, no matter how much he loves Kim.
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