SUNRISE TECHNIQUE FLASHCARDS
How is camera movement used in Sunrise? – Long tracking shots to create an immersive
feeling
How is editing used to create atmosphere? – Fast cutting during moments of fear or
temptation, and slow, lingering takes during emotional reconciliation
How is the Woman from the City set apart from the villagers? – She is dressed very well and
always in darker colours (connotations of villain). The villagers are dressed very plainly, in
lighter colours
How is expressionist lighting used in Sunrise? – High contrast lighting to evoke emotion and
stylised sets which were slightly distorted to heighten drama
What visual metaphors and symbolism are used in Sunrise? – The swamp – temptation, the
city – modernity, the church – redemption and rebirth, the sunrise – hope and new beginnings
How is a difference shown between the couple and the Man and W from the C through
editing? – The chaotic double exposure edit of the city with the Man and W from the C
juxtaposes the calm double exposure edit of angels flying above the couple
What is the impact of the vignetting in the opening scene? – Around the village makes it feel
romantic
How can we tell the villagers are excited in the opening scene? – They are waving frantically
at the vacationers
What is the impact of the villagers’ excitement? – Makes the story even more heartbreaking
What is the symbolism of the focus on transport in the opening scene? – Mirrors the theme of
journey and redemption in the film
What is the impact of the cello plucking twice in the opening scene? – Creates an unnerving
and mysterious feeling
How does the score become more romantic in the opening scene? – A flute plays after the
cello
What camera techniques are used in the marsh scene? – Tracking shot, positioning, camera
movement
When is a tracking shot used? – Following the Man as he walks into the marsh
What is the impact of the tracking shot? – We feel helpless and creates the impression that an
exterior force is driving him there
When is positioning used? – Camera is positioned behind a bush
What is the impact of positioning? – Creates the feeling that we are spying on him and
reinforces the idea that what he is doing is wrong
When is camera movement used? – The camera stops when we see the Woman from the City
What does the camera movement symbolise? – That she is his destination
When are cuts used? – From the Wife crying to the Man walking to the other Woman, or from
the Man and other Woman to his Wife and child
What is the impact of the cuts? – Evokes the audience’s sympathy for the Wife
How is cacophony used? – Of city sounds during the double exposure edit to highlight the
difference in urban/rural environment
How are shadows used? – The Man moves into the shadows at the suggestion of killing his
wife
What is the impact of the shadows? – Emphasises the violent nature of what they are planning
How is an expressionist set design used? – The trees and reeds are exaggerated and looming
What is the impact of the expressionist set design? – Creates a claustrophobic, nightmarish
environment
How is chiaroscuro lighting used as symbolism? – The Man is shown half in the shadows, half
in the light, symbolising his divided nature
How do we see the W from the C’s need for power? – She is touching the Man a lot more than
he is with her
What can we infer from the W from the C’s behaviour? – Her insecurity about the Man’s
relationship with his Wife
How is fog used in the marsh scene? – We can hardly see the man walking in the fog
What is the impact of the fog? – Heightens the suspense and symbolises him trying to hide
What is the impact of the silence? – Heightens the tensions as every gesture and glance
matters
How is costume colouring used? – The Wife wears light-coloured clothing and the Man/W from
the C wear dark clothes
How is camera movement used in Sunrise? – Long tracking shots to create an immersive
feeling
How is editing used to create atmosphere? – Fast cutting during moments of fear or
temptation, and slow, lingering takes during emotional reconciliation
How is the Woman from the City set apart from the villagers? – She is dressed very well and
always in darker colours (connotations of villain). The villagers are dressed very plainly, in
lighter colours
How is expressionist lighting used in Sunrise? – High contrast lighting to evoke emotion and
stylised sets which were slightly distorted to heighten drama
What visual metaphors and symbolism are used in Sunrise? – The swamp – temptation, the
city – modernity, the church – redemption and rebirth, the sunrise – hope and new beginnings
How is a difference shown between the couple and the Man and W from the C through
editing? – The chaotic double exposure edit of the city with the Man and W from the C
juxtaposes the calm double exposure edit of angels flying above the couple
What is the impact of the vignetting in the opening scene? – Around the village makes it feel
romantic
How can we tell the villagers are excited in the opening scene? – They are waving frantically
at the vacationers
What is the impact of the villagers’ excitement? – Makes the story even more heartbreaking
What is the symbolism of the focus on transport in the opening scene? – Mirrors the theme of
journey and redemption in the film
What is the impact of the cello plucking twice in the opening scene? – Creates an unnerving
and mysterious feeling
How does the score become more romantic in the opening scene? – A flute plays after the
cello
What camera techniques are used in the marsh scene? – Tracking shot, positioning, camera
movement
When is a tracking shot used? – Following the Man as he walks into the marsh
What is the impact of the tracking shot? – We feel helpless and creates the impression that an
exterior force is driving him there
When is positioning used? – Camera is positioned behind a bush
What is the impact of positioning? – Creates the feeling that we are spying on him and
reinforces the idea that what he is doing is wrong
When is camera movement used? – The camera stops when we see the Woman from the City
What does the camera movement symbolise? – That she is his destination
When are cuts used? – From the Wife crying to the Man walking to the other Woman, or from
the Man and other Woman to his Wife and child
What is the impact of the cuts? – Evokes the audience’s sympathy for the Wife
How is cacophony used? – Of city sounds during the double exposure edit to highlight the
difference in urban/rural environment
How are shadows used? – The Man moves into the shadows at the suggestion of killing his
wife
What is the impact of the shadows? – Emphasises the violent nature of what they are planning
How is an expressionist set design used? – The trees and reeds are exaggerated and looming
What is the impact of the expressionist set design? – Creates a claustrophobic, nightmarish
environment
How is chiaroscuro lighting used as symbolism? – The Man is shown half in the shadows, half
in the light, symbolising his divided nature
How do we see the W from the C’s need for power? – She is touching the Man a lot more than
he is with her
What can we infer from the W from the C’s behaviour? – Her insecurity about the Man’s
relationship with his Wife
How is fog used in the marsh scene? – We can hardly see the man walking in the fog
What is the impact of the fog? – Heightens the suspense and symbolises him trying to hide
What is the impact of the silence? – Heightens the tensions as every gesture and glance
matters
How is costume colouring used? – The Wife wears light-coloured clothing and the Man/W from
the C wear dark clothes
