AERIAL

“An aerial shot is taken from an elevated site, such as a plane, helicopter, or mountain top. In delivering the image from a bird’s eye point-of-view, the shot’s graphics more easily lend themselves to symbolic use” – Jennifer van Sijll, Cinematic Storytelling

An aerial shot is usually utilized to establish context or to reveal the “big picture”. It is used very effectively in the above screenshot from Equilibrium where we see John Preston waiting in line to obtain his dosage of Prozium. Similar to Pink Floyd The Wall, it is clear that in this utopian society everyone is just “another brick in the wall”. John is lost in this sea of people all wearing black, all abiding by the law. The aerial shot successfully portrays the good citizens, suppressing their individuality in favor of a life without war, hate, jealousy…

The aerial view is used to portray Pink (above) floating in his pool, symbolizing his loss of control in life. This is further reinforced with the motion of the camera moving rapidly back and forth, making him appear to be falling. The bloody color of the water itself is also a symbol of his insanity, referencing the scene where he shaves off his head and eyebrows. It is clear that he has totally lost it. He is metaphorically trapped in the deep end and is slowly drowning. Again, “the wall” is symbolically marked by the boundary of the pool; his isolation is continually re-visited.

In the final sequence of Solaris, the aerial view of Kris Kelvin’s home is revealed to be on an island in Solaris. This plot-twist opens up numerous questions into this possibility. It establishes the context, leaving the viewer to contemplate its significance.