It’s All Greek To Me

Punch him in the nose! – ah, he won’t, he’s more civilized than we are.

The composition here is really interesting. It reminds me of a scene in Rosemary’s Baby. William Fraker, the cinematographer, described it in Visions of Light. Rosemary’s pregnancy has just been confirmed, and the neighbor lady has gone back in the bedroom to call just the right ob to treat her. Fraker set it up sort of as in this image. But Polanski made him move the camera more and more until all you could see was the back of the woman on the phone. What really mattered was happening in the bedroom. So when the scene was projected, Fraker said everyone in the theater subconsciously leaned to the right as if to see around the corner. Who is that guy? To whom is he speaking? About what? That’s what keeps the composition balanced.

From the look in his eyes, he’s describing the “yard of beer” he had last night. I hope that’s the case, because otherwise he’s describing a macro-economic shortfall and boy, it’s a doozy!!