Christopher Nolan is one of the most prevalent directors working in his field today, with a catacomb of critically acclaimed and beloved films. In case you are in need of a refresher in some of Nolan’s impressive work.
We have all experienced the out of body feeling that comes with the ending of a Christopher Nolan film. You begin the film with a feeling of solidarity in the film’s progression. Once you are comfortable you quickly find yourself snowballing with the events of the film. The Audience is lead into a state of confusion and you start wondering how on earth the film ended up here. It leads to repeated watches that lead to an increased understanding of the intricate plot Nolan has woven into the film’s foundation. This idea is embedded with Nolan and his fascination with circles. A theme that can be found in most of his films be it through his use of dolly camera moves, barrel rolls, moving sets, VFX composites, blackholes and with his characters often needed to physically draw circular diagrams.
What I find to be most fascinating about Nolan’s films, and arguably what makes his films so unique is his ability to tell his stories in two parts. Sight and Sound.
Sight
He has a mastery over motif, disguising clue using important cinematic devices. He uses the guise of subtextual imagery to wave significant clues in his viewer's face. It would be comparable to a criminal returning to the scene of his crime to mock the police officers. This is not to say he is mocking his audience; he is just making them think. It is this effect the leaves you both intrigued and confused. The power of the circle.
He can successfully achieve this effect through a veiled context, choosing to introduce these elements at the most optimal points. This obstructs the audience from gaining any of its true relevance but leaves a significant impact on them. This video provides a more concise explanation of this technique in Nolan’s work.
Sound
Sound plays a vital role in the immersion of its audience. Filmmakers who choose to neglect this aspect of filmmaking find it hard to keep their audiences’ attention. Nolan places great importance on sound within his movies, stating that “sound is as important as picture”. This video further demonstrates Nolan's expertise over sound in his recent film, Dunkirk.
So, what do you think of sound in movies? Do you have a soundtrack then recreates the moment of that film in your head? Please comment down below with your thoughts and opinions!