When analyzing how different types of camera shots can affect the mood and meaning of a particular scene in a film, I could not resist discussing my all time favorite movie, Titanic, and the scene that I personally believe to be one of the most moving, beautiful, and heartbreaking scenes in the film; the dream scene (ending scene of Titanic).
The last scene of the movie starts out looking at old Rose’s pictures (her most prized possessions) while she is sleeping, and then goes to show us what she is dreaming about. In the dream the camera first shoots a long shot of the entire ocean, blurred and slowly focusing in on the unsinkable Titanic at the bottom of the ocean. The long shot emphasizes the isolation of the ship at the bottom of the sea. The camera then starts to pan the hallways of the ship, as light starts to appear and the ship becomes new again. These shots, still long shots, allow the viewer to become oriented with what they are seeing as the realization sinks in that what they are seeing is merely a dream; Rose’s fantasy. The fact that the camera moves through the ship like a maze, long shot to long shot, builds suspense in the viewer because they know that the camera is leading them on a journey through the Titanic to something important.
The next shot is a medium shot where we have almost reached the important thing we are on the look out for. People appear and the camera focuses on the back of a young man. Because it is a medium shot we still do not see the man’s face, building the mystery factor of the scene. The young man slowly starts to turn around to face the camera and extends a hand, informing the viewer the path they have been following through the crowd of people was a person walking (yet the camera has not yet shown this person); we are watching the scene through their eyes. This medium shot is the information shot and it informed us that the man at the top of the stairs is Jack, and one can assume that the person he reaches his hand out toward is Rose.
The next shot is a close up, and here a woman takes Jack’s hand lightly, highlighting the safety of the relationship, and then the camera focuses on Rose’s face. A huge smile lights up the scene as she holds Jack’s hand and they kiss. The close up of their faces gives the viewer important details of the immense love of Jack and Rose’s relationship; lovers finally openly together and accepted. Eventually the shot pans out and light floods the screen. A final long shot reinforcing that this was yet a dream. This closing shot emphasizes Rose’s sadness as her and Jack will never be, yet her joy in that he will always live on in her heart.
I have attached a link to the video of this final Titanic scene; found on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN_OmyAUrSU
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