sunrise

sunrise is a film that requires multiple views. (like pulp fiction) there's just something new you find every time you see it. everybody has a different perspective on this film, some are obvious things you notice that stand out as metaphors others are just things you see that were left there by the filmmakers themselves to have people like us talking about it. there is no right or wrong answer here just an observation supported by something relevant, someone could easily see it differently. now that i made that clear, on to what i intend to prove...

sunrise (as you already know) is a film of metaphors, in my paper i intend to prove the resemblance of the city woman to that of the vampire, and the transition of the main character as he juggles between his wife and the city woman.

in the film you immediatly notice the flaw the main protaganist has. He's infatuated with the woman from the city, he's driven by her influence. In the tracking shot thats shows him walking to the swamp to meet the city woman you can notice in his walk that he is a different person. in the early scene when he is home in the presence of his wife you see him standing straight he seems a little mischevious but non the less his wife's presence signifies purity, he doesnt seem to realize it but he's calm and ok in this state. As he makes his way to the city woman you begin to see him slouch and walk in a creepy manner as if he was a zombie or was forcing himself to move.

Another time you notice his transition is in the shot where he's going over the drowning of his wife in his head. its a medium close up shot he looks like a normal man observing his wife as she's feeding the chickens he then invisions her drowning while he imagines the city woman caressing him in a super imposed image. He then puts his head in his hands eventually lifts his head up and you begin to notice this black shade under his eyes he becomes this different person entirely.

But the most obvious reason that he is a different person (depending on who he's with) is shown early in the film. The neighbour women describe how the relationship between the married couple use to be saying "They used to be like children, carefree...always happy and laughing..." after the title card explains this you see a flashback of him, his wife, and their baby they all seem carefree and all is well and simple. Then another title card appears and it says "Now he ruins himself for that woman from the city - Money-lenders strip the farm - and his wife sits alone". another flashback shows the difference and all the change the city woman has brought as he selling his cows with a look of grief. it's safe to say he is a different person depending on which woman is present.

My next theory i intend to prove is the resemblence the city woman shares with the vamp. As we all know the vampire is a creature of the night, who feeds on the life form of living creatures, they never come out during the day, they have an influence about them that makes it easy to lure their prey to them and wherever they go it's sure to be bad news for someone. this can all be said for the city woman.

My first example begins with the fact that the city woman is never seen coming out during the day. the first shot to show this is the shot of the city woman in her room in the country, the room is dim with only a hint of light shining through one of the windows she's smoking and she has on a slinky black dress. The second fact is proven when the husband leaves his house to meet her at the swamp it's night time and it's the only time they ever meet.

another example that relates her to the vamp is her complexion she is very pale, you can notice this when the husband finally meets her at the swamp and the moonlight shines on her face. this a clear sign that she doesnt get enough sunlight and could very well be a creature of the night. Another small detail i want to add, vampires are a symbol of death they are the living dead they take life and dont really value it. before the husband finally meets the city woman there is a shot of her standing in the pale moon light twirling a flower (which represents life and all that the country has to offer) and then she carelessly throws it away this can reresent her disdain for the country and life itself. since vampires are creatures of death it can be said that she really doesnt appreciate life you can relate this to the fact that she suggested in a nonchalant manner to the husband that he kill his wife, as if it was no big deal, and as if life itself had no value.

My last example focuses on her influence. vampires are usually very charming they have this influence about them, and the ability to seduce and lure in their prey. This all relates to the husband and the difference in his behavior when he's with the city woman. You can first notice this in the tracking shot of the husband walking to the swamp when he goes to meet her, he almost seems like he's in a trance, and as if he's forcing himself to move. Another example can be seen in the shot when the city woman suggest that the husband drowns his wife, at first the husband is enraged he begins to choke the city woman but she kisses him and quickly changes his mind, this is a sign of the power she has over him. The next example is shown when the husband wakes up the next day and he begins to think about the act of murder he was asked to commit, after his thought he seems to have a change of heart but soon after a super impose image of the city woman appears and she's holding him smiling ensuring the fact that the city woman is in his mind, and has indeed influenced him enough to have him carry out her wishes.

i stated i would prove every theory i had with relevant information, i hope this will suffice.