Framing of Jarmusch's Mystery Train

mintues:seconds



1:22 Symmetrical Balance
Subjects are framed symmetrically, but the postures of both Jun and Mitsuko are a juxtaposition, showing their differing personalities. the moving background is of a vast open green field. no hint of civilization in a region that is being shown rapidly through a train ride. Ironically it would remain the same as they leave town.



5:31 Deep Space Compositions
having a railroad run through, divide city gives the sense to the that no one visits, they just go through. gives sense to the term, "wrong side of the tracks".



10:02 Eye Room
a long walk in an unknown under privileged neighborhood, it would give an unsettling feeling for most, but Mitsuko is in awe of it, in wonderment of a city completely unlike her own.



14:52 Foreground Middle ground Background
the city lights paired with the run down buildings show the city is in a rebuilding process, that has not fully reached all parts of Memphis. As its prime has passed since Elvis and the days of sun studios.




17:55 Compositional stress
The couple are out of their element, the hotel is shown blurred as soon as the couple step foot in the frame. the overall dim suspicious feel of the location is questionable for tourist to visit with a prostitute soliciting herself in front of the hotel


20:33 Left Center Right
Mitsuko on the right is the only one not looking to the left. The bellboy in the center with the odd lamp light, portrait of Elvis also on the right and Jun on the left are looking to the left. almost to say the situation is unusual and Mitsuko is only one who can't see this because she is blinded by the excitement of Graceland




29:47 Top Center Bottom
the overall theme seems to coincide with means for transportation, more so roads and railroads, both are in need of renovation in Mephis. Ill-lit streets and uncommonly silent city nights create an eerie mood for this film. The subtitle gives a huge hint at the message behind "Mystery Train"