"The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
Scene Analysis:
The film is about an introverted freshman that is taken under the wings of two
seniors who welcome him to the real world.
seniors who welcome him to the real world.
The scene that I will be analysing takes place at the start of
the film when Charlie, Sam and Patrick have just left the homecoming dance and
are about to head home.
the film when Charlie, Sam and Patrick have just left the homecoming dance and
are about to head home.
At the start of the scene, Charlie, Sam and Patrick are driving in Pittsburgh at
night. The car being used as a prop may be used to connote adventure and much to
discover such as a typical teenagers life. The camera focuses with a close-up towards
Patrick’s hand turning up the volume of the radio not much detail of the radio
is seen because the scene takes place at night and the main/only source of light
comes from the street lights which may be a connotation/ symbolization of
freedom and youth. A catchy song comes up from the radio and the camera slowly
pans from the radio to a female character (Sam) In a close-up which shows us her
facial expression towards the music showing the audience that she is very curios
and having great interest in it, the panning of the camera also slowly shows us
more of the things occurring inside the vehicle. The three characters are
formally dressed as if they have just departed from a formal dance or a prom
which may highlight that this is a very big and important day of their
adolescence lives. The costume which Charlie is wearing is very simple and generic
which may symbolize that he doesn't stand out and that he is not too bothered
of what he looks like. On the other hand, Patrick is wearing a very stylish
suit which may symbolize that he is very fashionable and vain about how he
looks like this may also connote he has a very wild and outgoing personality.
Sam is wearing a simple dress but stands out, She doesn’t wear make-up as an
ordinary female teenager would on such a big event. This may highlight that she
is no average girl and isn’t concerned about what society thinks. Sam then demands and begs Patrick to go to the “tunnel”.
Patrick then refuses sarcastically which shows the audience the characters close
relationship. While they are quarrelling we can see Charlie being quiet on the
corner which may suggest he is a timid and an introverted character. Sam then
unexpectedly climbs onto the back of the truck/car. Charlie is immediately
startled and asks what she is doing in a worried tone of voice you can see by
his performance that he is concerned of her safety and cares deeply about this
girl; this may also suggest that he is in love with this girl.
night. The car being used as a prop may be used to connote adventure and much to
discover such as a typical teenagers life. The camera focuses with a close-up towards
Patrick’s hand turning up the volume of the radio not much detail of the radio
is seen because the scene takes place at night and the main/only source of light
comes from the street lights which may be a connotation/ symbolization of
freedom and youth. A catchy song comes up from the radio and the camera slowly
pans from the radio to a female character (Sam) In a close-up which shows us her
facial expression towards the music showing the audience that she is very curios
and having great interest in it, the panning of the camera also slowly shows us
more of the things occurring inside the vehicle. The three characters are
formally dressed as if they have just departed from a formal dance or a prom
which may highlight that this is a very big and important day of their
adolescence lives. The costume which Charlie is wearing is very simple and generic
which may symbolize that he doesn't stand out and that he is not too bothered
of what he looks like. On the other hand, Patrick is wearing a very stylish
suit which may symbolize that he is very fashionable and vain about how he
looks like this may also connote he has a very wild and outgoing personality.
Sam is wearing a simple dress but stands out, She doesn’t wear make-up as an
ordinary female teenager would on such a big event. This may highlight that she
is no average girl and isn’t concerned about what society thinks. Sam then demands and begs Patrick to go to the “tunnel”.
Patrick then refuses sarcastically which shows the audience the characters close
relationship. While they are quarrelling we can see Charlie being quiet on the
corner which may suggest he is a timid and an introverted character. Sam then
unexpectedly climbs onto the back of the truck/car. Charlie is immediately
startled and asks what she is doing in a worried tone of voice you can see by
his performance that he is concerned of her safety and cares deeply about this
girl; this may also suggest that he is in love with this girl.
The setting also
changes as the car enters the tunnel it becomes more lit and alive because of
the tunnel lights, and the tunnel may also be a connotation of having no limits,
endlessness and infinite. We then see a mid-shot of Sam at the back of the
truck stretching her arms outwards against the strong breeze of the wind that
makes her dress look as if they are ocean waves with the tunnel lights shining
upon her accompanied by loud serene music as Patrick increases the volume of
the radio this symbolizes freedom, youth and endlessness. The audience is then
put in Charlie’s point of view looking at Sam in a low angle shot showing that
Sam is a Goddess in his eyes. The camera continues to show Sam in “her moment”
screaming to represent how infinite and free she feels. We are then put in
Patrick’s point of view looking towards Charlie that has a blank stare and a
smirk on his face, he then looks towards the camera (Patrick’s POV) and says “I
feel Infinite” this lets the audience feel that they are also in their
situation of just being free and not having any limits. As they exit the tunnel
the camera shows a mid-shot of Charlie and Patrick laughing together in the
shot which also shows their close relationship.
changes as the car enters the tunnel it becomes more lit and alive because of
the tunnel lights, and the tunnel may also be a connotation of having no limits,
endlessness and infinite. We then see a mid-shot of Sam at the back of the
truck stretching her arms outwards against the strong breeze of the wind that
makes her dress look as if they are ocean waves with the tunnel lights shining
upon her accompanied by loud serene music as Patrick increases the volume of
the radio this symbolizes freedom, youth and endlessness. The audience is then
put in Charlie’s point of view looking at Sam in a low angle shot showing that
Sam is a Goddess in his eyes. The camera continues to show Sam in “her moment”
screaming to represent how infinite and free she feels. We are then put in
Patrick’s point of view looking towards Charlie that has a blank stare and a
smirk on his face, he then looks towards the camera (Patrick’s POV) and says “I
feel Infinite” this lets the audience feel that they are also in their
situation of just being free and not having any limits. As they exit the tunnel
the camera shows a mid-shot of Charlie and Patrick laughing together in the
shot which also shows their close relationship.
The scene then ends with Sam
with her arms stretched in a silhouette with street lights in the background
then dims. This scene
would appeal to a typical teenager audience because they may have experienced a
time of being “Infinite” in one point of their lives which this scene
emphasises greatly on.
with her arms stretched in a silhouette with street lights in the background
then dims. This scene
would appeal to a typical teenager audience because they may have experienced a
time of being “Infinite” in one point of their lives which this scene
emphasises greatly on.