The document analyzes scenes from the film The Graduate (1967) directed by Mike Nichols. It discusses how the camera follows the main character, showing him looking into the distance as if considering his uncertain future. He steps onto a conveyor belt that pushes him toward an uncontrollable future. While others rush by with purpose, he seems lost. His solemn facial expressions show he is unhappy returning home. Symbols like his plain gray suitcase and a fish tank representing confinement convey a sense of isolation and feeling trapped.

1. EmilyMorris – Pre production
Film Analysis – The Graduate(1967)Directed by
MikeNicholls
The camera constantlyfollowsthe charactersuggestinghe’sthe
maincharacter throughout.He’sshowntobe constantlylooking
intodistance whichsuggeststhathe couldbe consideringthe
future andwhat to do next.He’snevershowntobe looking
straightintocamera whichisindicative of the factthat he
possiblydoesn’tknow what’scomingnext.He stepsontoa
conveyerbeltwhichispushinghimtowardsmetaphorical future
withno falteringwhichsuggeststhathe isbeinghurtledintohis
future nomatter what.People rushpastasif theyknow what
theywantand where they’re goingbut he doesn’t.The bland
background makesthe entire scene seembleakandalmostasif
there’snohope.
The onlytime that he isn’tinframe is whenwe see hissuitcase.Thisisgreyandplainjustlike him.
There’sa flashof redon it whichcouldrepresentanelementof fearandsuggeststhathe’sscaredof
what’sto come next.Thisisshortlyfollowedbythe sign‘dotheymatch?’ whichcouldbe seenasa
relationshipsymbol,foreshadowingthe ideaof alove interestlaterinthe film.
Facial expressionremainssolemn –he’snothappyaboutbeinghome.Also,the factthathe’s
wearinga suitto go home suggestshe isnotcomfortable there.Outside the airport,everyone is
pairedwithpeople apartfromhimwhichemphasisesthe factthathe’salone andpossiblyfeeling
quite isolated.
Gets home andface still solemn,suggestingthathe’s unhappytobe there.Fish tankisindicative of
containment,asif he feelstrappedbyhispredicament.
Althoughthisfilmdoesn’tfall underthe genre of psychological thriller,Ireallylike how the actorhas
beenpositionedwithinthe shotsandthe use of symbolism(muchlike withthe fishtankwhichis
usedto representconfinement) toshowa sense of isolation.These are techniquesthatIwouldlike
to incorporate intomyfilm.