I also felt The Beguiled suffered from poor choices. I didn't mind so much the focus on the insular, upper class world of the women because I think where Sofia Coppola was going with the film was to give the feel that the entire narrative was from the point of view of the girls who lived in this house/school. That's why the film gives the impression of banality and insularity. The world of the young women was small and hemmed in, hence the events in the film. For me, the poor choices were more to do with neglecting the setting, which can be one of the most powerful aspects of films about the South. The landscape can be a character of its own, interacting in a sense with the other characters, and I think there was a missed opportunity here. But I actually enjoyed the film and own it on DVD. I'm a fan of Sofia Coppola's work. ;)
In some stories/films, the setting is like the elephant in the room. It's this part of the story that's influencing the narrative in a covert way. Even having elements like the characters sweating constantly or fanning themselves, it just adds a layer to the story. Seeing wounded soldiers traveling along the road and sweating profusely, for example. I did appreciate how Sofia Coppola really emphasizes natural lighting, which I think she also did in Marie Antoinette.
I also felt The Beguiled suffered from poor choices. I didn't mind so much the focus on the insular, upper class world of the women because I think where Sofia Coppola was going with the film was to give the feel that the entire narrative was from the point of view of the girls who lived in this house/school. That's why the film gives the impression of banality and insularity. The world of the young women was small and hemmed in, hence the events in the film. For me, the poor choices were more to do with neglecting the setting, which can be one of the most powerful aspects of films about the South. The landscape can be a character of its own, interacting in a sense with the other characters, and I think there was a missed opportunity here. But I actually enjoyed the film and own it on DVD. I'm a fan of Sofia Coppola's work. ;)
Fair point! Totally agree about the insularity. I'll revisit the film at some point and consider your thoughts on the landscape, thanks for reading!
In some stories/films, the setting is like the elephant in the room. It's this part of the story that's influencing the narrative in a covert way. Even having elements like the characters sweating constantly or fanning themselves, it just adds a layer to the story. Seeing wounded soldiers traveling along the road and sweating profusely, for example. I did appreciate how Sofia Coppola really emphasizes natural lighting, which I think she also did in Marie Antoinette.