Gladiator – close reading of scene 20 you simply will not die
1. Gladiator – close reading of
Scene Practise for
Assessment
Scene 20 -You simply won’t die
2. Scene Summary
• In this scene Maximus has just defeated Tigris of Gaul
another famous gladiator.
• Commodus ordered the death of Tigris with his thumbs
down
• Maximus ignored the order and spared Tigris
• The crowd love it and chant ‘Maximus the Merciful’
• Commodus goes to confront Maximus
• He dares him to attack
• He taunts Maximus with details of his family’s death
• Maximus does not react but says your time will come.
• The psychological battle/showdown foreshadows their
finalbattle
3. Scene Analysis
• This scene shows the contrast between Commodus and
Maximus
• Commodus is afraid and Maximus is courageous
• Commodus is corrupt and cruel
• Maximus is self-controlled and honourable
• Commodus wants the mob’s approval but Maximus
wins their love.
• Commodus has the protection of his guards still but
they still give way to Maximus
• Maximus is patient and powerful and Commodus is
afraid of him so hesitates to act. He lacks control.
4. The 4 film aspects I have chosen to
write about in my essay.
• Camera Shots
• Characterisation
• Sound/Dialogue
• Setting
5. Plan – Camera Shots
Long shot of Tiger – emphasises the brutal and violent setting of the Colosseum
where death and blood are entertainment for the mob of Rome. The tiger is both
beautiful and terrifying like the Colosseum. Both symbolise power and death.
6. Low-angle Long Shot of Lucilla – shows her anxiety and tension. She is regal, still
and controlled, but her body language betrays her concern. She is all alone and a
contrast to the crowd watching to her left. Her beautiful clothes and jewels
emphasise her wealth and position but she is powerless against Commodus’
corrupt tyranny and she is waqtching carefully to see what Commodus will do to
respond to Maximus being ‘merciful’
7. High-angle longshot of arena framed between 2 spectators. It involves the audience
in an intimate way and makes it seem as if they are sitting there watching the
action. Shows the detail of the watching crowd and the ring of soldiers around
Maximus and Commodus.
9. Over-the-shoulder shot – involves the audience, shows Maximus’ self-
control, his body language and expression convey his tense hatred and
contempt for Commodus. He is sweaty and bloody from battle which
contrasts with Commodus’s regal garments.
13. Close-up shot – shows Maximus bowing his head to Commodus as
he says Highness. He shows respect on the outside but it is ironic
because his body language shows tension and conflict. He is patient and
controlled, and does not overreact.
14. Midshot of Maximus going to leave Colosseum. The guards part for him and
do not stop him even though Commodus has not given any orders to let
him through. This shows they respect Maximus and acknowledge his
power, they do not treat him as a slave.
15. Plan - Dialogue
• You simply won’t die.
• Are we so different, you and I?
• I only have one life left to take
• Then take it now
• Your son squealed like a girl when they nailed him
to the cross.
• Your time for honouring yourself will soon be at an
end, Highness.
• Maximus, Maximus, Maximus
16. Plan - Setting
• The colosseum – it is glorious, brutal, violent, a
bloodbath, entertainment by death – shown by
longshots and high angle shots
• The power and glory of the Roman Empire
• The power of the mob, the audience
• Setting of tyranny and corruption - the power of the
reigning emperor to control a country and its people
• The different groups of people who control the action –
the mob, the soldiers, the gladiators, the senators and
the Emperor and his sister
17. Practise Paragraph
• The setting of this scene is authentic and realistic. The
stunning and glorious Colosseum is a symbol of Rome’s
glory and decadence. The longshots of the Colosseum
shows the range of people who came to be entertained by
death – senators, common people (the mob) and the
wealthy. The high-angle shots of the Colosseum make the
audience feel like we are looking at a painting whereas
the close-up shots and the over the shoulder shots make
the audience feel as if we are there, watching Commodus
insult Maximus and feeling the power of the scene
directly. Ridley’s Scott’s stunning cinematography and his
‘painterly effect’ create a richness of detail that takes us
back in time to the Roman Empire. The detail of the
soldiers’ costumes and weapons add to the realism and
atmosphere. The prowling tiger at the beginning adds to
the violence and power the Colosseum evokes and
symbolises.
18. Your turn – Practise Dialogue
analysis
• Describe the effect and meaning behind the dialogue
and how they relate to themes in the film.
• Dialogue is important in cinema because . . .
• In this scene dialogue is important because it shows
how Commodus and Maximus think and feel about . . .
• You simply won’t die. This quote emphasises how . . .
• Your son squealed like a girl . . . This cruel insult
highlights how . . .
• Your time for honouring yourself will soon be at an end
. . . Maximus’s calm threat conveys his . . .
