I have chosen to look at the colours in the film "A Single Man" from 2009. In this film the main character George, played by Colin Firth, is a homosexual middle-aged professor, who lost his love in a car accident.
There is a distinct 60's feeling about the whole film. Not only because of the clothes, but because of the colours and grain of the film. The whole film is very pleasing to the eye, and all the details and distinct colours bring the film up to a very high level of professionalism.
The colours are very important for this film, as they are what makes the film work. Everything is seen through the eyes of George, and his character influences the colours throughout the film.
The film is graded in a low saturated and medium/high contrast style, as we are presented to George's world. The low saturation is meant as a state of depression for George, as he plans to take his own life prior to the accident that killed his lover.
As the film progresses, we are taken back in time in several flashbacks to when George and his lover was still together. The saturation in high, the skin-tones warm, and the whole image is very pleasing to the eye. In contrast to the main shots in the film, we clearly see George as a happy man in the flashbacks.
A very noticeable shot is the flashback scene, in where George and his lover are on the beach. The scene is shot in black and white as the only on of it's type in the film. There is a hard shadow on George's lover, indicating that the memory is fading or something terrible is about to happen to him.
George finds comfort and love in one of his students - the young Kenny. Kenny is the sweet young student, with a deep fascination for George. As Kenny enter the stage, the colour grading changes. From the cold and low saturated state to the saturated and pleasant state.
Whenever saturation is introduces into the image, the viewer will perceive it as a sign of George's well being improves. A little colour is painted on his tragic life.
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