A motion picture is generally not studied in a literature
class due to the nature of its type – devoid of any written words. However, it
is my personal believe that a motion picture is a very good medium to study representation
of images (not just for film schools). Because a film does not have the luxury
of the written words, one of the elements which writers/screenwriters/directors
manipulate and exploit is figurative representation to give auxiliary meaning,
idea or feeling. This figurative representation has a collective effect when
used properly, along with good acting, lighting, setting, and all that makes a
motion picture.
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protected.
The World Unseen is a 2008 historical drama film written and
directed by Shamim Sarif,
adapted from her own novel of the same title. The film is set in 1950s Cape
Town, South Africa during the beginning of apartheid.
The World Unseen is critically acclaimed and has received
warm reception, winning numerous awards in various film festivals around the
globe. It was released in 2008/2009.
Read synopsis here:
THE STUDY
The film The World Unseen is chosen for this study because
of its richness in figurative representation. The study is removed from the
novel, which the film is based on.
At its core, one of the themes of the film is love. It makes
a number of statements about love: love blossoming in very difficult
circumstance, love transcending racial barrier, forbidden love, familial love,
parental love and the struggles of love.
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FIGURATIVE REPRESENTATION IN THE WORLD UNSEEN
Interpretation of figurative language and representation is
subjective and always based on several factors. The figurative representations
discussed here are based on my own interpretation (the list is not exhaustive):
1. Charactonym
2. Metonymy
3. Imagery
1. Charactonym
Charactonym is when the name of the character has a symbolic
meaning.
Charactonym
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Analysis
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1. Amina
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In Arabic, the name means “trustworthy/trustful”, while in
African, it means “peaceful, secure’. It is obvious in the film that Amina is
trustworthy, when she hides Rehmat from the policemen, knowing very well the
kind of trouble she could get herself into if she was discovered (and this is
not the first time she gets into trouble, according to Farah). She is also at
peace and is happy with who/what she is, as she dresses as she pleases, goes
anywhere she wants, and does anything she likes.
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2. Miriam
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The name has several meanings based on several theories.
In Egyptian, it means “beloved”, and we can see that Miriam is loved in the
story; at least by her children and Amina. In Hebrew, it means “waters of
strength” and “rebellious, disobedient”, which we can also see in the film.
Though initially Miriam is portrayed as weak and docile, she evolves into a
stronger woman as the story develops, who tries to challenge status quo,
stands up to her husband, and pursues what she wants to do, which are
learning how to drive and being a cook (by standing up to her husband, she is
being disobedient).
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3. Grandmother and Amina’s parents (the Harjans)
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All these three characters are nameless (no first name, at
least) in the film. While Grandmother is nameless perhaps to represent all
typical Indian grandmothers, her parents’ namelessness is a bit interesting.
Her father is not a typical Indian man – he doesn’t mix with anybody (but
somehow is up-to-date with the current gossips), doesn’t pressure Amina into
marriage, and doesn’t restrict her movement and freedom. Perhaps his
namelessness is to illustrate his individualism, and how he is different from
a typical Indian father. Amina’s mother on the other hand, is a rather
typical Indian woman – listens to her husband, serves her mother in-law well,
and takes care of the household – but is torn between a demanding mother
in-law and a rebellious daughter. While the father’s namelessness is to show
his individualism, his wife’s namelessness is perhaps to show the complete
opposite.
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4. Begum, Amina’s maternal grandmother
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The Turkish name means “princess” or “a woman of rank”,
which is ironic, considering how badly she is treated – how she is raped and
gets pregnant, and how she is beaten for carrying this child (thus bringing
great shame and dishonour to the family), is sent back to India with the
child, and has her son taken away from her.
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2. Metonymy
Metonymy occurs when a related object, a part of a related
object or an idea is used to represent the whole. Often, it used to represent
the whole of an abstract idea.
Metonymy
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Analysis
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1. At 00:05:30 – Miriam’s family having breakfast, and at
00:06:00 where Miriam scrubs the floor
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They represent a daily life is a housewife – chores which
Miriam does on almost daily basis.
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2. At 00:05:30 – Miriam’s family having breakfast (she
doesn’t eat with them though), at 00:25:00 – she cooks breakfast for Omar, at
00:26:30 – she prepares some food for Amina, at 00:32:46 – she pours some tea
for Amina
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They show that Miriam, as a devoted mother and with a
strong maternal instinct, is always serving people around her. We don’t
really see other people doing anything for her, except when she is in labour
(Omar brings her bottled drink and Mrs. Benjamin brings her tea). It is a
typical role expected of a traditional Indian woman, and she embodies that.
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3. The poetry book given by Amina to Miriam
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The book is a collection of poems. At 00:38:01, we see
Miriam reading the book, and the poem Love bade me welcome (by George
Herbert) is read in the background, first by Amina, then by Miriam. The full
poem:
Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack’d anything.
“A guest,” I answer’d, “worthy to be here”;
Love said, “You shall be he.”
“I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.”
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
“Who made the eyes but I?”
“Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them; let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.”
“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?”
“My dear, then I will serve.”
“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.”
So I did sit and eat.
As a whole, the poem refers to God’s love. It is a kindly
love which is welcoming, encouraging, observant, hospitable and solicitous.
It makes the persona feels accepted and worthy, that he is the “worthy
guest”. In the film, we only hear the first eight lines of the poem, the part
where Love is welcoming the persona as his guest. The persona feels that he
is not worthy to be a guest because he is “guilty of dust and sin”. In the
Bible, “dust” also refers to human or flesh. So we can interpret it as the
persona saying that he is guilty of all the imperfections that come with
being a human, such as desires and lust (and thus, he also sins).
Miriam clearly feels stirrings in her for Amina at this
point of the story (Love bade me welcome). But she has reservations about it
because above all else (the cultural restrictions and the type of
attraction), she feels she is not worthy enough to accept it (yet my soul
drew back). However, Love is kind and accepting, and tells her that “yes, you
are worthy” (You shall be he).
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4. The line “…all the wild summer was in her gaze” written
by Miriam on verso of the front cover of the book she sends to Amina
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The line is taken from the poem The Folly of Being
Comforted by W.B. Yeats. The meaning of the poem is open to interpretation,
especially when put in the context of other poems in the collection. On its
own, basically it’s a love poem; a dialogue between a kind one and Heart,
where the kind one tries to console Heart in his maddening infatuation.
However, Heart retorts, and says that her nobility is so great and the fire
that stirs about her is so clear. Thus, in the context of the film, by
quoting this line, Miriam perhaps is expressing her feelings (or infatuation)
for Amina subtly. Full poem:
One that is ever kind said yesterday:
‘Your well-belovéd’s hair has threads of grey,
And little shadows come about her eyes;
Time can but make it easier to be wise
Though now it seems impossible, and so
All that you need is patience.’
Heart cries, `No,
I have not a crumb of comfort, not a grain.
Time can but make her beauty over again:
Because of that great nobleness of hers
The fire that stirs about her, when she stirs,
Burns but more clearly. O she had not these ways
When all the wild summer was in her gaze.
O heart! O heart! If she’d but turn her head,
You’d know the folly of being comforted.
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3. Imagery
Imagery is when the author invokes sensory details. In
written works, it helps the reader to visualize what is being described. In a
motion picture, I believe it is used to provide overall effect of a scene,
usually through facial and bodily expressions, sound effects and background
images.
Imagery
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Analysis
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1. At 00:10:03 – Miriam standing by the car, looking
around
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Visual imagery - to show how desolate and isolated the
house/shop is. It could also represent how Miriam is feeling – removed from
her husband, children and society.
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2. At 00:10:54 – the sounds of the hanging beads by the
window
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Auditory imagery – it amplifies how quiet it is in the
morning in the household and in the countryside.
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3. The bright and bold colours of Farah’s clothes
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Visual imagery to show her self-confidence and how
comfortable she her with herself in bright and bold colours (orange, red), in
contrast with Miriam, whose clothes are mostly lacklustre and of natural colours
(white, blue, green).
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4. When Miriam brings some food for Amina at 00:26:30
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Auditory imagery – the sounds of the flapping of the
clothes on the line, birds singing, and sounds of wind blowing show how quiet
it is out there.
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5. Amina finishes her work for the day at 00:28:46
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Visual and auditory imagery to highlight how beautiful and
quiet the countryside is, with the sunset in the background and crickets
chirping.
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6. The Indian wedding at the café at 00:40:35
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Auditory imagery – to show how loud and merry the ceremony
is, where everyone is enjoying themselves, despite their obvious challenges
living in South Africa at the time. Feasting and dancing is an important
element in an Indian wedding because it signifies approval of family and friends
of the marriage.
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7. Amina stands in front of Miriam in the shop at 01:10:52
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Kinesthetic imagery – the tension Amina brings with her
into the shop, which Miriam picks up when she looks at her. The audience
could also sense Amina’s anxiety, nervousness and angst when she walks into
the shop to confront Miriam.
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8. Miriam and Omar’s discussion at 01:22:46
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Auditory imagery – the night was very quiet, not even the
crickets were chirping. We could also get a sense that is ominous because of
that.
Kinesthetic imagery – the tension between Miriam and Omar
when he is frustrated that his wife is not backing down from her stand for
the first time (to learn how to drive in order to work at the café) and that
he is losing control of his wife. He believes that his wife’s place is at
home with him. Perhaps gossips about Miriam and Amina he has been hearing
doesn’t help either (the same one Mr. Harjan knows about). It is amplified by
his overturning the table and trying to hit Miriam.
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REFERENCES
Shamim Sarif.
(2008). Director’s commentary: The World Unseen DVD. Enlightenment Productions: London.
Wikipedia. (2011). Stylistic Devices: Figurative Language.
Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylistic_device
in October 2011.
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Buy the NOVEL "The World Unseen":
Buy the AUDIOBOOK "The World Unseen":
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