@amazingcinematography / amazingcinematography.tumblr.com
Mommy (2014)
Directed by: Xavier Dolan Cinematography: André Turpin, CSC Cameras & Lenses: Arricam LT, Arriflex 435 / Zeiss Master Primes Format: 35mm (Kodak Vision3 500T 5219) Mode: Spherical (super35, 3-perf) Aspect Ratio: 1:1 / 1.85:1
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Mommy (2014)
What do you think about the new Xavier Dolan movie's aspect ratio?
He previously chose 1:37.1 on Laurence Anyways but this looks even more unusual: it was shot on 35mm film and then he cropped the image to 1:1. It's like looking at a classic medium format - 6x6 - photograph (or an Instagram photo), but is it enough for the big screen? Don't you miss something? It would be great to hear your thoughts!
Dolan about his choice:
The perfect square in which it consists framed faces with such simplicity, and seemed like the ideal structure for “portrait” shots. No distraction, no affectations are possible in such constricted space. The character is our main subject, inescapably at the center of our attention. Our eyes cannot miss him, her. 1:1 is, besides, the ratio of album covers in the CD industry, and of all of these jackets that have imprinted our imaginaries over time. The Die & Steve Mix 4ever being a leitmotif for us, the use of 1:1 found an additional echo. It is also, to be frank, my DOP André Turpin’s favorite ratio which he had, apparently, dreamed of using his entire life without ever daring to do so. (...) after having now spent a year with him busting my balls at about just every shot, regretting our infamous ratio, I’ve learned two things: André loves cinemascope and I, for one, have absolutely no regrets in this. (via FilmStage)
And just for the record: Mommy received rave reviews in Cannes.
