Synopsis on Oliver Stone's Salvador by Andrea IP: 208.251.92.52 Posted on October 26, 2001 at 05:33:25 AM by Andrea
The following writing is by me, Andrea Calabrese, Joematters.com, on a 5 minute clip from Salvador by Oliver Stone
Synopsis
Cast: James Woods as Richard Boyle, John Savage, James Belushi
Director: Oliver Stone
A photojournalists adventures in El Salvador while covering the Nicaraguan Civil War for NBC & CNN, 1979-1981
CAMERA WORK:
Stone uses several different types of moving camera shots to capture and portray the massivity of the death that occurred during the Nicaraguan war in El Salvador.
I have specifically chosen this series of shots because I have found it to be one of the most extraordinarily memorable and movable sequences of moving camera shots throughout the history of film.
In this case, especially, Stone captures the massive amounts of death & decay of human flesh that occurred throughout the Nicaraguan war by presenting to the audience an awakening array of moving camera shots of Boyle & Johnny as they themselves, as journalists, photograph the slaughtered masses sprawled across the burning landscapes of El Salvador.
This specific sequence consists of close-ups of Richard and Johnny discussing their responsibilities to the people and to the people's history, as to the meaning and importance of capturing the truth of what really happened. As they are philosophizing and strenuating the importance of capturing the "real" or truth of what happened (to help people understand why it happened so that others may learn from the tragedy, in the future), Boyle turns to climb up the mountain and the camera zooms (cranes) out to a wideshot, tilting up at the same time, lifted and zoomed out to extreme wide & long shots of all the massive deaths and then (cuts) back in to where Richard and Johnny are on the mountain in further discussion.
Stone uses tilts to express much meaning and psychological implications to the audience, provoking thought & emotion in the audience by movement of the camera. In several incidents the camera is raised or lifted to tilt down to show death and destruction. For example, the camera is tilted down upon the hillside of the dead, and then tilted up to show life, light, truth, and beauty. For instance, when Boyle is standing on top, the camera is tilted up to him as he apologizes and expresses his thanks and gratitude to Johnny. Another instance where death and trauma of insignificance & decay are shown is when the camera is shooting an over-the-shoulder shot of the woman identifying the bodies of the dead. The camera is once again tilted down upon the dead.
Another recognizably beautiful element to the moving camera in this sequence is notable in regards to the directors panning shots. Stone pans in rhythm to the sentimentality of the music while photographing the massive deaths--instigating more traumatic result, reaction, and depth of thought & feeling, to and of the audience.
Moreover, reaction shots (close-ups) of Johnny are extremely effective in this sequence, of capturing the essence of the cause-effect relationship of the discussion between Richard and himself.
IDEOLOGY:
In this sequence or clip, the film is in sympathy with humanity. I believe this scene to be not only one of the most beautiful in and of Stone's direction of lighting and camera work, but also of literature, script, and dialogue. What is shown here are ideals, which I believe, should be learned, studied, and taught as ideals for all future generations to remember, follow, and teach to future generations. The ideology is of itself, the importance of, & what it means to capture the truth. Unedited, unmanipulated, uncensored, unrated, the truth--as it happened, as is--captured & exposed to show and teach to others an expansion of consciousness, how & why it happened, & a teaching of the pain and harshness, so that less suffering and pain may be endured in the future. (This is what will happen if people in another country (US), behind a desk, next to a cozy fireplace, eating steak and wine, declare war and send thousands of soldiers to fight or kill each other.) By photographing the truth and capturing these realities--people will then realize for themselves the horror and trauma of what occurred simply by viewing the photography, in another time & place altogether.
SOUND: Effecting moment of representation
I believe sound is a key element in helping the audience to realize and remember the essence or reality of what happened by the people--when it happened.
Not only is sound--or the element of music--a key element in directing the audience--to recognizing or identifying--a certain time in history, but the music is also representative, helping to give support in the representation of the people, their Latin American history, and culture.
I believe it is all used to help the audience gain a better understanding or realization of what happened, so that it may be remembered and taught to future generations.