Film Texture: Subtext and Art Direction

Movies are considered as one of the mediums of entertainment. Although every day there is an increase in innovation in the various disciplines of cinema, still cinema has retained the entertainment of people through its well-organized aesthetic presentation. The use of art direction and subtext can be seen in countless films from the beginning of cinema till now. The discussion text will explore the subtext by analyzing notable films from different periods and countries. Understanding the subtext of the film and the underlying message of the filmmakers, creates the ability to understand the essence of the film, evaluate it and understand the story. These films represent different time periods and different geographical contexts, which lends particular importance to the creators' creativity, cultural influence, and use of subtext. In-depth analysis of film elements and subtext will encourage students to apply subtext to film projects.

Art direction directs the film's actors, controls the artistic and dramatic aspects of the film, and fulfills the visionary vision of the screenplay. Art direction encompasses the film's overall visual approach, which determines the appearance of the film's environment, including the location, color, texture, space, and objects used in the scene. Also, it creates the aesthetics of the actor's presentation, costumes and makeup. Art direction creates the overall color palette for the film, which can have a profound effect on the film. The production designer oversees the artistic look of the film and facilitates and executes the creative intent. The art director creates everything from the largest scale locations to the smallest details. At a finer level, art direction involves several other important aspects. For example, tweaking (subtle adjustments to processes or systems) and locations, so that the film's visualization on screen looks inherently realistic, lifelike and accurate, is known as set dressing. Art direction includes props and costumes; When the elements are chosen correctly, it makes the scene more believable. The overall aesthetic is guided by the production designer and implemented by the art director, which influences the final film as much as the lighting, story and dialogue. Art generally refers to qualitative aesthetic beauty. Film is a complete entertainment language, consisting of story, sound, light and other elements. Art direction in a film must be accurate and appropriate—selection of shooting locations, location decoration, selection of props, acting and appropriate use of sound and lighting based on the selected story make realistic visualization of the film possible. Usually movies are realistic depictions of fictional stories. The use of correct, acceptable and appropriate sound, lighting and art direction in film production is essential to present the film realistically to the audience on the screen.

In film, subtext is the underlying meaning that enriches the content of scenes, dialogues, or characters, but never directly manifests itself in visual cues, dialogue, or story narration. However, the subtext can be fully inferred through the scenes, dialogues and actions, expressions or context of the characters in the film. Subtext adds depth to the relationships between the film's characters, allowing viewers to interpret the nuances of the film's story beyond what is directly told through the film's narration.

The overall look and feel of the film include set design, costumes, props, and overall visual style, known as art direction, that is consistent with the overall look and feel of the characters and the setting of the film. It fits the director or producer's vision and also reflects the atmosphere of the film, the personalities of the characters and the themes of the story.

Films, also known as motion pictures, tell stories through visual medium. Films combine moving image and audio special effects to present the audience with specific story information. Films are screened in cinemas, video, TV and online OTT platforms. Movies can be in different genres, such as action, comedy, drama, science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, thriller, animation and documentary. The film medium covers a vast area of entertainment and is capable of creating a huge impact on culture, art and society.

Film analysis has three basic levels: text, context, and subtext. The 'text' of the film includes the cinematography, character dialogue, music, background sound and video screen text. Usually the visualization of the film is considered to be the text, that is, what is seen on the cinema screen. 'Context' is the background and circumstances, such as the historical, social, cultural, religious and political context. That is, the background in which the film is composed, the plot on which the story of the film is based. On the other hand, 'subtext' is the underlying meaning, which is often left unexplained in the language of the movie screen.

By analyzing these elements of the film, it is possible to discern the filmmaker's intentions, social and cultural impact, and deeper messages or insights, which create new connections for the audience with the films. Essentially the language of film entertainment, the filmmaker's art direction and subtext make the narrative of various stories diverse and interesting.

Subtext in a film is the underlying meaning or message that is not directly expressed, but the audience perceives it. Subtext adds depth and multidimensionality to films, often expressed through character dialogue, actions, or situations. If a character harbors feeling for another character, their dialogue and actions may hint at those feelings. This underlying unexpressed feeling is the subtext. The subtext of the film is revealed through the dialogues. A character's dialogue often carries an underlying message. The scenes, colors, and symbols the director chooses through the scenery can indicate many things. The character expresses his state of mind or desire through body language and actions. The choice of music and sound often conveys the main feeling or theme of the scene. Therefore, the exploration of subtext in films demands a deep and multidimensional analysis, which helps the viewer to understand the deeper meaning of a particular film. Subtext allows the artistic qualities of the film to be appreciated more clearly. Subtext is a very powerful language for filmmakers, using internal film narration to create a strong connection between the audience. Art direction and subtext play a significant role in making movie scenes last longer in the memory of the audience.

Italian neorealist film directed by Vittorio de Sica Bicycle Thieves (1948) through the character of Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorani) the life of working-class unemployment in post-World War II Rome, social conditions of family, despair, moral complexities of survival, struggle, poverty and extreme reality of helplessness Subtext here. Towards the end of the film, the main character, Antonio Ricci, is seen running away on someone else's bicycle, with some men chasing him. In this way the film portrays the hard and real preventive helplessness of honest and ordinary life, and this scene is shown from the point of view of a child character. The stark helplessness of ordinary life is revealed through subtext. A job is needed to save family and life and a bicycle is needed to save a job, which is stolen from him. The subtext in this part of the film shows the struggle and helplessness of ordinary people to survive through a family in the post-war Italian society of the time.