Textual Analysis - Vicky and Sam (Romance)

In this post I will be executing a textual analysis of a classic Romance film called 'Vicky and Sam'. The film is about two young people meeting in a video store, then falling in love over their passion for film. While Vicky and Sam fall in love, three film makers sit in a diner discussing a plot for their own film, as they do this, the story they are telling is being replicated to the word by Vicky and Sam. In many ways, in terms of sound, editing, mise-en-scene and camera work, this film is a classic love film. I will begin with looking at the muse-en-scene of the film. For example, in most of the shots in the montage that shows the two characters being very much in love, the lighting is quite low-key and this is typical of a romance film because low-key lighting represents a mood of love and relaxation. 

Sound 
The use of non-diegetic music allows the viewing audience to share the emotions felt by the two characters, Vicky and Sam. The music is typical music that you would expect to hear in a romance film, as its played by an orchestra and its in a major key, meaning it sounds joyful and happy. 

Editing
Like in every love film ever made, there is a montage of shots of the couple doing things together like getting coffee, sharing their first kiss, and playing around on the bus in each others arms. This montage allows the viewing audience to get a glimpse of what the couple has been up to over a long period of time, but the audience see little pieces of their time together, summing up what the couple have done over the space of weeks into under 30 seconds. 

Camerawork
When the two characters are in the video store, both of them are shown on either side of the bookcase using a medium long shot. There is a shot of Sam looking at films, and then there is a shot of Vicky sorting through DVDs. Both these shots represent that the two characters are made for each other because of mutual love for film. After this, when they spot each other through the shelves, there are some close up shots of both Vicky and Sam as they walk towards the end of the isle of films. They stare at each other curiously, as you can see below:

Watch the film below! I recommend.