If you’re familiar with Tony Zhou’s video essay series “Every Frame a Painting,” you know that he’s great at analyzing film form. His latest essay, “The Silence of the Lambs - Who Wins the Scene?” may be shorter than his usual output, but it’s no less fascinating for those interested in the subtler choices that go into constructing a classic scene.
In this case, that scene is Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter’s first encounter, and Zhou shows how the editing and camera angles subtly play out the shifting power dynamics between the characters. It turns out, the answer to “Who Wins the Scene?” is not so simple.
Previously
Want to Know What Makes David Fincher Great? Focus On What He Doesn’t Do.
How Movies and TV Shows Are Making Text Messaging Cinematic
What American Comedy Filmmakers Could Learn From Edgar Wright
