Movies

Mise- En- Scene is a very significant factor in film making since it conveys a thousand of meaning. Basically Mise- En- Scene describes the design aspects of production from the arrangement of sets, props, costumes and lighting to the positioning of actors on the set. Those visual elements are put together to create a scene. In the film 3-Iron, mise-en-scene is very important especially that the film is notable for the lack of dialogue between two main characters. However, the mise-en-scene with its little details give the viewers a clue about the deeper reality or story of the film. It doesnt matter whether the film is in Korean or English language. Everybody, with the help of its mise-en-scene, can already create multiple interpretations.

The story is basically about the grotesque relationship between a young drifter and a battered housewife. The drifter randomly enters in empty houses. He lives in each flat while the house owners are away. He washes their clothes, repairs things and puts things together as his ways to repay the occupants back without them knowing it. He eats their food, he uses their water, cleans himself and watches television. Before he leaves the house, he makes sure to find a photo of the owner and its family and take picture of himself standing beside it. In this way, he attempts to find a home for himself in the photos of the other families. The photos are significant mise-en-scene that illustrates how lonely the drifter is who continually finds his identity in the home of others even just for a fleeting moment.

One day however when he breaks into a large and beautiful home, he is being watched by a battered wife. The house with the help of some properties illustrates it belongs to an abusive husband and battered wife. He saw a book of pictures where a woman is taken  abusively-- nude photos that shows her physical pain. Her husband also calls often with a domineering and powerful tone. Though the house is cheerful and beautiful, feelings and emotions are powerfully shown through the facial countenance of the woman. After making eye contact with her or when the woman reveals herself, the drifter finds a connection but immediately leaves. However as he contemplates on the road, he decided to go back to probably help her since her husband hurt and abuses her.  In the house, one can also immediately notice the man made golf course, giving the viewers clue that later the gold properties will be used for an important turning of events. Though the drifter temporarily sprints from the scene, he eventually returns to observe how the husband abuses her wife. Apparently each scene is shot with a delicate approach perfectly paced which truly makes the audience contemplates.

In the third apartment where the two main characters go together, the voice mail serves as an important property since it says that the owner will be gone to abroad for a short period of time. The artistic human photographs hanging in the wall also suggests that the owner of the house is a photographer. When the battered wife folded her own photograph and artistically cut it to create an abstract form, it suggest that though she is broken, her life is still artistic. Meanwhile the audience will discover the consistent attachment of the main protagonists to the 3-Iron golf club. Initially he uses the club to smash the chest of his lovers detested husband. Then, he rigs the golf ball to wire, continually hitting the ball round and around a tree. With the use of golf club, the viewers will clearly see his act as the only outlet for his hate and violent tendency.

In this film, even if there is almost a complete absence of dialogs, the viewers, through the mise-en-scene, are assist to this platonic form of love between the main characters. Even without saying a word, the film slowly moves deeper with the great help of their relaxed yet emotional physical countenance. The manner in which the elements are framed perfectly complement the characters delicate yet desperate attempt to find their identity and belongingness. The characters faces are so expressive, gestures ideal and their performance so flawless that the absence of talk proves more the richness of their love. When the woman finally talks, her words are so powerful and mesmerizing, one can feel the sincerity of her words. Mise-es-scene apparently becomes a helping tool for the viewers to understand the richness of love and emotional depth of the main characters even without dialogues. The small details, specifically the properties and the actors movement and positioning, give the audience clue on what is happening.