Mise-en-scene anaylsis

The Sixth Sense

From this scene within the sixth sense, the mise-en-scene shown gives a lot of hidden messages about the family. For example, we see a table for two which gives the impression it is just the mother and the child who in live in the house, furthermore, as it is just a table for two it gives the idea that they are quite isolated from everyone else and don't have many people over. The idea of isolation is conveyed more by the picture which is held to the fridge by a a magnet. This gives the idea that it is a average family and the mother is proud of her son and shows this through placing a drawing (in which we assume he drew) on the fridge. However, the drawing appears to be quite empty and dull. The house is small and there are a simple tree outside which appears to be lifeless. This can add to the isolation image by portraying the idea that the area in which they live in is small, plain and boring. In addition, it can also be used to link the boy to the scene by the lifeless tree being released to the fact that this little boy is seeing dead people. Therefore, we are given the image that the little boy views himself as the only thing outside is the dead and this is what he lives with.

We also can get a feel for the family as to what they are like. As an audience we can see that they struggle with money. Through the use of the TV on a trolley it is likely to be the only one they have, so they have placed it on a trolley to make ease when moving it to different rooms. This gives the impressions that they aren't struggling as such with money since they can afford a TV, but aren't the richest people as they are having to move the one small TV they have around. Furthermore, we see the mother who appears to give off the impression of being rich or living a great life through the use of her wearing jewellery and make-up. She has red painted nails which can symbolize her femininity, or even relate to her son due to connotations of danger, blood or even anger which she is currently feeling towards her son when she believes he is lying to her. In contrast it can also be seen by other people to symbolize love which could be towards her son or someone else.

Another view we get from this scene is that everything appears to be in an unsettling or negative mood. There is little colour used within the house for example the walls are very pale yellow and even the sons clothing are muted. In addition to this, we see a TV ad displaying what appears to be a happy family full of bright colours and life which then contrasts to the current family. This creates a negative atmosphere and both the TV ad and colourless house suggest that they are unhappy the way they are or not coping. The lighting adds to this effect by being darkened which displays tension and fear, which could also link to the son having to live with the constant surrounding of dead people.