Max Klein

Dr. Sujay Pandit

The Language of Film and TV

12/17/2020

The Lighthouse

Regardless of the art form, an understanding of its history is imperative to the

progression of the medium. Improvements can not be made without something to

improve, and rebellion can not exist without something to rebel against. True masters

of craft spend years studying those who came before them, and the work they put out

inherently shares DNA with the works they find inspiration in. With a history as rich as

that of Cinema, directors have seemingly endless possibilities in regards to influence. It

is rare when a new director comes around that exemplifies a true understanding of the

world of cinema, but when they do, the films they put out are truly special. One such

director is Robert Eggers, and his 2019 feature The Lighthouse is the culmination of a

lifetime spent studying the directors he worships. It is a masterful display of what it

means to be a director and it is a piece of work that fully encompasses the language of

film.

At the beginning of the semester we examined a lot of silent and early sound era

films. This is a fitting place to start the analysis because the visual characteristics of

The Lighthouse are very clearly influenced by the early sound era. Eggers made the

decision to shoot on 35mm film with an aspect ratio of 1.19:1, which closely resembles

the films of the 1930s and 1940s. The square aspect ratio might be uncomfortable for
some viewers in todays widescreen world, but it is highly effective in helping the

audience become immersed in the stories time period.

In regards to Mise-en-Scene, the smaller frame required Eggers to make

deliberate choices about what to include in each shot. This results in a beautifully

refined film full of meaningful and memorable scenes. Aside from the aspect ratio, the

lighting throughout the film is very reminiscent of the German expressionist lighting in

the 1920s. Stark black and white images full of contrast constantly force the audience

to direct one hundred percent of their attention to the screen at all times. The lightning

also adds to the effectiveness of the films horror elements.

The sound of The Lighthouse also demonstrates Eggers knowledge of film

history and attention to detail. In a 2020 interview with Film Independent he mentions

Bernard Herman as a direct influence on the score, which is interesting considering he

was a large chunk of our lesson on sound from week five. Another inspiration for the

score was the authentic sounds of a New England lighthouse including the clever use

of boat sounds and fog horns. Eggers attention to time-period specific detail, and his

fearlessness in terms of using antiquated cinema techniques prove he is a force to be

reckoned with in the film world. The Lighthouse is a fitting example when talking about

the language of film and television for many reasons, but most importantly because it is

simply a great film.