August: Osage County –
Violet and Beverly
Everyone has a
family. Whether it be big or small. Whether we love them unconditionally or
move half way across the country just to escape them. The film August: Osage
County directed by John Wells and adapted from the play by Tracy Letts presents
to audience a peek inside a dysfunctional family through one of the biggest and
toughest obstacles a family can endure. Addiction and death. Through Wells’ use
of Cinematography we are able to experience life for this family. An
interesting and thought provoking relationship to look at is that between
Violet and Beverly, husband and wife. In the opening scene we are introduced to
a very real look at a relationship that, at this point, is not standing against
the test of time.
The film begins with
wide shots of the scenery, which is open dry plains – this is to help establish
the setting of the film. However over this we are presented with a voice over
of Beverly saying “life is very long – T.S. Elliot.” You can connect the dialogue
used with the scenery to get a visual idea of the situation. The situation
being that after a long marriage the affection and worth of the relationship
between Beverly and Violet has died away, just like the dead plains. Furthermore
they still have a long road ahead of them because “life is very long”. This
helps give the audience an understanding of why Beverly’s reach the end of his
patience for this destructive relationship.
Next we see an over
the shoulder shot which is subjective of Beverly talking to the new maid. The camera
is angle side on to him so we are able to see his desk which is filled with
books his “only salvation”. But this also introduces the viewer to a nearly
empty bottle of whiskey and a glass of whiskey in his hand. This shot is used
to show the audience that he may possibly be an alcoholic. We then switch to a
close up of part of his desk with old and new photos, a new photo of a young
girl and an old photo possibly of his wife Violet. This symbolises him being a
family man for a long time with grandchildren, but has seen much stress and has
needed way to comfort that stress.
Eventually we find
out that Violet is a drug addict when Beverly says “My wife takes pills and I
drink... a paragraph in our marriage contract.” The way he speaks about his
marriage with no affection helps portray their dying relationship which has
obviously been affected by drug use. To emphasis this point Wells uses a wide
shot of the interior of the house where we can see upstairs and into Beverly’s
office where Beverly is. At the top of the stairs we are able to see violet’s pyjamas
and legs, but her face is cut out of frame. The use of this shot is to show the
contrast of lighting and mood between the two, which seems to be split between
Beverly and Violet. Beverly’s office is lit by the sun outside whereas Violet’s
side of the shot up the stairs is cast in darkness and shadows giving the
static shot a yin yang effect to emphasis their polar opposites and how they
have grown apart. This eventually leads to Beverly having enough of dealing
with this relationship and he commits suicide to free himself from his wife.
Through these shot it
is conveyed to the audience the struggling relationship that goes on between
Beverly and his long time wife, Violet. The shots are used to emphasis the
dramatic decline in the love and affection for one another. This causes them to
argue, be very distant and separate and ultimately cause Violet to lose her
mind and for Beverly to take his life. This is Wells and Letts way of
presenting to an audience a look into the lives of a highly dysfunctional relationship.
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