Being a isn’t easy, especially if you aren’t esteemed by your family or feeling guilty if you feel sorry for something that you cannot prevent that will become true. In Rob Reiner film Stand by Me the scene “Denny’s brother funeral” is about family out cast affects the personal character. The cinematography is used impressively and the theme is captured superbly by the use of the cinematography and characterization.
As the theme, the scene explores that Gordie’s outsider identity is originated by his family. The director uses a very appropriate way of showing Gordie’s emotions: dream. The nightmare that he sees while he is asleep, actually it is a part of his subconsciousness because dreams are the perfect reflections for real feelings in which he was effected mentally. In the funeral scene, the audience sees the funeral of Gordie’s brother, Denny, because he had died in a jeep accident and after his father says him “It should have been you, Gordon. It actually indicates that he should have been dead instead of his brother Denny. Then he said that, Gordie wakes up from his dream and says “I miss him” and it shows that he could have been died instead of his brother so that he feels guilty. He also feels outcaste because he thinks his family does not esteem him.
Through Gordie’s guiltiness and outcaste, we are able to get a deeper insight for Gordie’s characterization. As it is depicted by the director dreams are perfect ways of defining the character because they are actually part of the subconsciousness. In the beginning of the scene the strong relationship between Chris and Gordie is conveyed clearly as Chris looks down to Gordie with the emotion of protection in his eyes. Then Gordie gets into his dream that provides the audience to understand what is in his mind. In his dream, guiltiness is portrayed evidently by Gordie’s father. He says that “It should have been you, Gordon” and it indicates because of he makes it up in his mind that he feels depressed for being guilty for a thing that he cannot do anything for it, for example he cannot do anything for his brother. He also questionizes himself whether he does worth for anything than his brother. He feels disempowered, insignificant and weird.
To emphasize Gordie’s emotions, the cinematography is used effectively to strengthen the theme of the scene. At the beginning of the scene, the camera changes between Gordie and Chris’ faces as close-ups so that it gives the idea of Chris protects and controls Gordie. Then the camere zooms toward Gordie’s face to increase the effectiveness of the dream and then the camera moves through fade transitions and zooming as long as it reaches Gordie. In the funeral scene comes out, the lighting overexposed with faded blue and white overtones, making it look like a real dream. Otherwise if the lighting didn’t be that blurry, it can be understood as a Gordie’s life experience. At the end of the dream scene, the director does a close-up to Gordie’s father to show how serious he is when he said “It should have been you, Gordon”. The music has a significant role in the funeral scene. In the background you can hear the creaky sound against the deep silence of the coffin while it is buried. It increases the effect of the significance and the tension of the scene.
Essentially, this scene captures the innermost feelings of Gordie against his family and how he reacts against it. Through cinematography and characterization Rob Reiner does a superb job in capturing what it is like to feel guilty and outcast from the family.