Cinematography and Mis en Scene in 'The Bombardment'

 Cinematography and Mis en Scene in 'The Bombardment' - Netflix 2022  (spoilers)

'The Bombardment' is a fairly new film which came out last year in 2022, when someone mentions cinematography it is one of the films that pops into my head. It is based off a true story which adds a whole other level of emotion to the film. In the opening scene, camera shots and angles are cleverly used to foreshadow upcoming events or help capture the way you should feel about a character or how the character feels. When I decided to watch it I thought it would be from the perspective of the Allied pilots however it actually is from the perspective of a group of children who are friends which creates a whole new dynamic to the movie. This also can be reflected in camera shots and other aspects of cinematography.

Opening shot - eggs

In the beginning we jump back and fourth between two different scenes with different characters. One shot in particular stuck out for me. The close up of the eggs on the back of the bike. The camera stays there for a long period of time which invokes a sense of curiosity in the audience as to what will happen to the eggs. Why the long focus? Almost as though you can predict the eggs will break, but why? Perhaps the eggs symbolise the 

fact his innocence is shattered by the scene he has witnessed. Or it could just be to help exaggerate the child's reaction to what he has seen 

Broken eggs after seeing the accident

the eggs cracking could be similar to when someone

 gets scared in a movie and they drop a glass to add dramatics and tension. I think the eggs could also symbolise the fragility of life and that one moment has traumatised him forever also showing that he is now a broken character. He is the first character we see in the film as the camera follows him as he rides his bike. The very first shot is a ground shot which focuses on a puddle. In the reflection we see the young boy approaching. This straight off the bat sets up

First shot

 this movie to be cleverly filmed with interesting cinematography.

We also have a completion of different frame shots, such as a wide shot which helps show the set. It is a gloomy, dark, and grey day which could also be pathetic fallacy which further foreshadows the horrific, dark event that is about to take place.

 The happy girls going to the wedding juxtapose the weather as they are very cheerful despite the miserable weather. They almost contradict the symbolism of the weather and radiate light which makes us forget the day is miserable due to the cheerfulness they have expressed on their faces. We automatically like these girls as they seem pure and have a child like glow and aura about them making them seem harmless and also making us feel a connection to them as we are watching the interactions they make with one another. All the girls are dressed in white dresses. White is associated with purity and innocence making these girls appear angelic which further makes the tragedy more horrific. Before leaving the girls are handed a newspaper each which they use to protect themselves from the rain. There are similarities between the rain and the shower of bullets falling on them, however one they are unable to protect themselves from. This tragic scene at the beginning sets the tone for the rest of the film. The film is very dark with brief comedy in it. This can make the film hard to watch but the emotion you get from the film and the stunning filming makes it worth the watch. 

The camera is situated in the car as we watch each girl climb in. We also are introducing to a taxi driver. We do not know any of their names yet we feel comfortable and enjoy their presence on our screen. We do not know anything about these girls but they appear to be sweet as does the older gentleman who is driving them to where they need to be. The camera is positioned so we only see the back of the drivers head as each girl gives the driver a kiss on the cheek at a shoulder shot. We then are at the front of the car as we see the drivers reaction to the sweetness shown by the girls and a smile appears on his face making us like these characters already with them only being in the film for a few minutes. The focus is set on the driver of the car as the girls appear to be in a world of their own. 

In the car we have a close up shot of a cigarette when the ash has got on her dress. Perhaps the camera is hinting to the fact that the dress will be ruined beyond repair in a few moments time. 

Taxi driver realisation 

Out of focus we see smoke from behind which causes curiosity. As the driver is framed in the side of the shot our eye is drawn to the centre of the shot where what is later revealed as gunfire approaches. It is blurred so the eye jumps between the mysterious smoke and the driver's face. The drivers face quickly changes as he notices what is happening. What I think is clever about this shot is that when he sees it the shot is at a shoulder shot but as he realises what it is, at that exact moment, the camera comes in for a extreme close up of the driver's face. This captures perfectly the concern on his face that contrasts from earlier when it was a big smile. The close up also makes the audience feel tense and on edge as our focus is brought to the driver's face as the background is blurred. However the gunfire now being known to the audience. The camera then shifts to the girls in the backs the gunfire hits the car, this being the first loud sound in the movie, before it was just the young kid whistling on his bike. The white dresses also accentuate the blood stains that now cover their dresses also could symbolise that their purity has been damaged as their lives were cruel taken. Their red lipstick also now highlights the blood which fully covers them. 

It is brought to our attention that the boy is in the same area as the girls. The camera is behind the boy as he watches the plane fly in to the distance. I feel this shot is very beautiful as it captures the setting perfectly and also being cinematically stunning. It reminds me of a shot in 'Dunkirk' when Tom Hardy stands in front of the plane on fire but we just see the back of him. The shot looks powerful but in this the boy is watches the plane as it flies off. Due to it being an Allied plane perhaps the boy is hopeful that World War Two may be coming to an end and the plane is a sign of hope to him. Or perhaps he is just curious by the plane. As it leaves the shot he does go and investigate. Although he is completely unaware of what he is about to see will be a horrific sight. 

Henry approaching wreckage 

The opening scene is one my favourite parts of this film. It is so cleverly filmed and it makes the film a cinematic masterpiece. This shot to the right is another shot that I really like, as Henry approaches the wreckage. Our eyes are drawn to the him as he is dressed in a bold colour making him stand from his surroundings out although

 he is not in the centre of the frame. This allows for the audience to see what he is seeing and are following him but are unable to stop him from seeing the traumatic scene making us feel hopeless. The audience does not want this young boy to see what has taken place as they want to protect him as he radiates innocence as he seems to be unaware of what has happened. This is why the perspective of children is interesting in war films as adults most likely would have an understanding of what has taken place and know it is properly best not to approach the destroyed vehicle. The camera follows Henry on his journey as we watch his innocence slip way. The affect this has on him is a key part throughout the rest of the movie. The fact the background is out of focus could show the boys cluelessness as to what he is approaching, the scene is not yet clear to him. The smoke creates a sense of unknown as it conceals the tragic scene. The smoke could perhaps be trying to shield the young boys eyes from this disturbing attack to try and protect his innocence. However the curiosity of the young boy is not stopped by the smoke as he continues to investigate which makes the audience worried for the young boy. 

Henry sees accident  

This shot perfectly captures Henry losing his innocence and the moment he became traumatised. This is a key moment in the film as this is constantly returned to throughout as Henry loses the ability to speak due to this incident. Henry is framed by the broken glass that is bloodied. This emphasises the horror the boy has just seen as the contrast of his youthful innocence with the red of the blood symbolise that he has been mentally scarred and has lost a part of himself. This frame could also show that his innocence has been corrupted and that his 

world has been shattered. 

We are then introduced to Frederik who is a member of the HIPO Police Branch. In his first scene we see him wearing a white top and his black trousers (not his full uniform). This could perhaps be foreshadowing his changing views to the current views he holds/ is forced to hold as he eventually tries to redeem himself. This could also symbolise the falling apart of the Nazi Party as the war is coming to an end. Warm lighting is highlighted on his parents' faces who do not support his views and do not like that he works for HIPO. A warm light is seen behind him but not near him, this could be foreshadowing his later redemption in the film that he chooses to fight for good and find God, although also acting as a sign of hope. The most common shot type used on Frederik throughout the film is a close up. At the beginning lots of close ups are used to show that he feels uncomfortable and out of place. One scene in particular is a dinner scene between Frederick, his mother and his father, both of which disagree with their son's actions. The scene is set with a wide shot through a door frame, Frederik is sat at the head of the table almost like he is being interrogated. We do not get any frames with the father in at the beginning of the scene which makes him appear to be an ominous character at first although we can hear him as he vocalises his disappointment at his son. We then have a shot when Frederik holds the hand of his mother as if he is searching for comfort and love. We have a close up on their hands. Rather suddenly we focus on a chair being slammed down on the floor as Frederik leaves the room. However, Frederik's father follows as he shouts after him. The scene continues however both Frederik and his father are out of shot but still we can hear them. The camera instead focuses on his mother which I think is a very clever choice. At first the camera is focused on the hallway the two men just went down and the mother is out of focus but in the shot, the camera then changes focus to the mother in a close up as she starts to cry. This scene is very powerful as it shows the inner conflict of the mother. She struggles between the love she has for her son but is heartbroken that he decided to work for cruel people who have ruined the lives of many. 

We are then introduced to another character called Greta who is in the car with her father. We never see her father's face fully, the only part we see in every shot in the car is his arm which has a swastika on it. This could show that her father is only identified by his uniform, making the audience have no connection to him and rather a strong dislike. This does ignite an immediate dislike to this character and give us an idea on how Greta was brought up and the ideologies she most likely has as she sings a song that was used for Nazi propaganda, although due to her age most likely unaware of the harm and unrest of the work her father does. She already is set apart from the other children we have met due to her luxurious, fur clothing hinting to her being higher in society. No matter the angle in the car the badge is still seen and because it is the only colour in the car, our eye is drawn to it.

Eva sees man being shot

We then have an interesting ground shot as the camera tracks the feet of certain individuals. This is
particularly clever as it adds mystery and tension which draws the audience in further. I found the lack of information we get from this shot very interesting as it also reflects that everyone else around also has no idea what is taking place. It also draws in the audience making it an effective shot. We eventually see the three men in the chase as one of these men is shot. This moment we are introduced to yet another character called Eva who is a young girl. She witnessed this incident happen. When the man is shot we see this through a reflection right next to Eva on her left hand side. This allows the audience to see both the man being shot and Eva's reaction in the same frame. This shows yet another young character being exposed to the horrors of war and not being protected from it. 

Later, we are then introduced to the next group of characters, the Allied pilots. They are seen having a laugh with one another, this reminds the audience that these pilots were just boys who were thrown into the horrors of war. It paints them as human so we never hate them for the mistake they made. That is what I think is very clever about how the pilots were written as they are not painted as 'bad guys' but rather as humans who made a tragic mistake. One shot in particular I liked was as Peter and Andy (the young pilots) were being informed about the mistake that took place in the opening scene, the two men that inform them are interestingly positioned in the frame. One of the men is in focus on the left half of the screen at a shoulder shot while the other man is out of focus at a distance. These men are established as a higher rank than the two young pilots. The focus shifts between the two older men a they tell the young pilots their mistake. This is very engaging and entices the audience. I found with this film during the 'fact dumping' they always used very interesting cinematography to keep the audience engaged which I thought was very clever. We have a close up on each of the pilots showing the mental battle they face due to the innocent lives now on their conscience.

Another scene I found very cleverly filmed with the pilots was when they are being briefed about their mission. Rather than a boring scene of lots of pilots sat in a room being talked at the makers of the film choice a different shot which I personally think gives the audience a better understanding of the mission. We follow Peter (one of the pilots) look through the maps. There are lots of maps raging from different styles: 3D models and map on wall with airplanes stuck on it and string mapping out the route to the target (there are more maps but these are the two we are shown properly). As the voice over carries on, the camera follows Peter as he looks at the maps giving us a visual image of what the mission is. We then have an over the shoulder shot as he looks closely at the 3D model of the target (a Gestapo HQ) with a school close by. The room is cold so his breath is visible in some shots. One shot I think in particular was clever is when his breath looks like a cloud of smoke/ dust over the model, mainly over the school. I feel. this was intentional foreshadowing of the tragedy that takes place towards the end of the film when the area surrounding the school is covered in smoke and dust. 

I also felt characters were cleverly linked. There was no one protagonist. It tells the story of multiple characters at once. It jumps from child to adult and also soldier to parents and teachers. I think this perfectly shows how war affects everyone and how each group of people react to it by showing all these different perspectives. 

I found the dynamic between Teresa and Frederik very intriguing. Teresa being a large factor as to why Frederik decides to try redeem himself. The many interactions they share on scene show a great contrast between them almost like a contrast of 'good' and 'evil'. Lighting is cleverly used as Teresa is shown in a brighter light and Frederik is consumed by shadows making him look like a dark character as we are unaware of a redemption. However this does change as we see Frederik's character development and we see him in brighter lighting. 

Guns are used to foreshadow death. Each character who had a gun pulled on them did die. Of course guns are a sign of death but only two character had a gun pulled on them and they both ended up dying but not from a gun. Frederik gets a gun held to him by Teresa although he does not die then this could signal to his death later in the film. 

When Frederik goes and sees Teresa again, Teresa is holding a candle light covering her in a warm glow this could symbolise the light she will bring to Frederik as he tries to redeem himself. As well as this light is also associated with God and Jesus as he was the light of the world and was a symbol not hope especially back in the day when times were particularly tragic and people were holding out for hope. Both characters have a crisis of faith which links them together in a very clever way. As Teresa battles with her crisis of faith she kisses Frederik in front of Jesus' large statue of him being crucified to prove he is real. Teresa and Frederik are startled by a loud bang coming from the statue. Teresa goes up to the statue and touches a mark on it. When she touches it fresh blood stains her finger this could foreshadow that both herself and Frederik are doomed as they have tragic deaths, an ending that reminds me on Romeo and Juliet. Camera movements and angles are well used in this scene. The camera is at a low angle as it looks up at the statue making it look powerful and mighty. We also have a long focus on Teresa's finger which has blood on it (we later learn this was not a miracle but rather Teresa pricked herself with a needle). We then go into a wide shot that I feel looks very beautiful as Teresa is stood in front of the statue. The shot is very artistic and beautiful and it also is an over the shoulder shot as the camera is over Frederik's shoulder. 

We then get a close up shot of Teresa with her finger still in frame. The focus jumps between her finger and her face making the audience focus and what the film makers want you to focus on. This scene as a few close ups this effectively creates discomfort and also making the scene quite intimate. 

As the pilots are on their way to their target the camera movement is jittery as if it is on the plane as well this helps the audience feel as if they are also on the plane with the pilots. We then have a close up on the pilots face (Peter) the shaky camera movements could also highlight his nerves on this mission. This camera angle and shot is repeatedly used on Peter.

The pilots' flight lasts a long period of time. This is because we jump around to many other character. This helps set the scene of where everyone is and what they are doing. The children having fun, preparing for a play and dressed in bright colours make the incident even more tragic as we see the children happy unaware of the horrors that are about to take place. The warm and colourful colour palette at the school contrast the cold and dark colour palette of the pilots. This makes these sequence more dramatic.

Eva leaving the school 

When the school is attacked by mistake dust falls and covers many children making them look ghostly. Perhaps symbolising that many children did die. It also highlights the children's tears as they wash away some of the dust. We watch as Eva leaves the school luckily avoiding the 

danger. A variety of shot types are used such as, a close ups as she watches the plane approach, a ground shot as she walks out the school and also a wide shot as she walks into the street, the explosion happening behind her.

This creates dramatic irony as we know Eva is safe but no one else does.

I found the camera was cleverly used to show how many children were attending that school and giving a better image of how many children lost their lives in this awful tragedy. The shot is a birds eye view shot looking down at a staircase with many levels filled with children perfectly capturing the scale of the tragedy. This same shot type is used once the bomb has hit the staircase showing a very disturbing and sad shot if many children and teachers covered in dust who unfortunately lost their lives. 

 

We have many close ups on the bombs which are the reason behind this tragedy and how they ruined many lives. The bombs had a delay which added further suspense. You hear a ticking before it goes off, as if it is counting down slowly before it explodes. The music goes quiet and we have a wide shot shot from the side and then the ceiling collapses trapping many children and teachers under the rubble. The screen goes back and we hear screams then just rubble shaking. 

Rigmor's mother running to school

One of the most heartbreaking scenes for me was when the parents run towards the school. The camera movements match the pattern of the running as if it is running with them. It is shot at shoulder angle capturing the parents worried faces.


Frederik helps get children out to safety and tries to help save

Rigmor and Teresa who are trapped. The camera does not show

Rigmor trapped under the rubble we only hear her. The only idea

we have on where she is is the description she gives to Teresa which hint to the fact that she may die. For me one of if not the saddest death in the film. We can only see Teresa who appears to be upside down but unsure where she is. Frederik tries to save them as we follow him through the gaps in the rubble with his light, perhaps a beckon of hope. As Frederik finally finds Teresa there is a close up on his face as he helps her get loose. Frederik clearly has fallen for Teresa. Teresa though, after Rigmor's death, decides she no longer wants to live as she give in. However the rubble collapses on them as they all unfortunately pass away. Frederik has a sort of heroic death as he tries to redeem himself. Rigmor's father has a close up as the rubble falls and the camera moves into slow motion as the world around him seems to stop as he has lost his little girl. The camera then goes to Rigmor's mother also in slow motion as she too looks heart broken.

We have a character development from Henry at the end as the tragedy from the bombing forces him to talk again as he collects the identities of the children. As he tries to get descriptions he wipes the girls dresses to see the colours. This shot is very pretty as it is the only colour is the darkness that engulfs the scene. 

Our last scene we follow the mother of Eva as she discovers her daughter left the school. We have a long continuous take of the mother running. What I liked about this shot is that the camera had no set distance or pace. This meant that at times the mother was close to the camera and others she was further away. When she arrives to the house we follow Eva's mother up the stairs as at a shoulder shot. We then go round the corner revealing Eva sat at the table eating her porridge. This was foreshadowed from earlier when Eva's father was crying as he shouted at her that morning as she would not eat her porridge as she was not hungry. We then turn back to the mother at a shoulder shot that pulls away to a wide shot as she drops to her knees and cries in relief. The last shot is of Eva as she eats her porridge. 

As the credits roll there is a list of names of all those who lost their lives which I felt was a lovely touch though it really made me cry. 

Overall I thought it perfectly showed many perspectives of how war affects people and how the innocent are affected. With brief comedy breaks that maintain humanity. It is a hauntingly beautiful film and would 100% recommend due to the cleverly thought out cinematography and how many sets and props were used to hint to or represent something.