Prop inspiration: the film Phoenix

The main question for the group was to use masks or bandages? 

We deiced to use bandages over a mask as through numerous research in films that acquire the use of masks i.e. the purge. Stereotypically it is to hide ones own identity in favour of becoming someone else or an inner persona/identity. Whereas within Virago, the film is not aimed at telling someones story but to allow the audience to decipher that the film is about a romantic relationship between Edward and Elizabeth: commonly known as: EE, that caused both psychological damage. 

The purge used mask to allow those who 'purged' to remain hidden and their identities to remain anonymous when they committed acts that were seen as unlawful, including murder,theft, arson, mass slaughter. The use of the masks also added to the horror genre which Virago wasn't aiming to be within. We wanted to create a psychological illusion that would leave the viewers intrigued as it would still show the viewer a part of the individual but wouldn't get all the mystery away. The use of bandages over a mask would also allow us to denote how Elizabeth is not a non fiction character who is living out a secondary life, which the purge connoted throughout. 

Therefore we decided upon the use of bandages over a mask and this was mainly influenced from my suggestion from the film Phoenix. 

PROP INSPIRATION: Bandages  

The film Phoenix is a German drama film that was directed by Christian Petzols in 2014, originally adapted from the 1961 novel 'le retour des candres' by the French author Hubert Monteilhet. The first 20 minutes of the film is what gave us the initial idea for how we could suppress the character of Elizabeth and create a psychological illusion. Within the film the protagonist 'Nelly Lenz' who is played by Nina Hoss was captured within Aushwitz concentration camp but managed to escape. Through the ongoing emotional and physical sufferings Nelly has to have her face reconstructed, hence why her real face lies a mystery throughout the film as the film begins with Nelly's face in bandages, denoting how she no longer has the ability to be how she once used to before the war. This initial point highlighted how the film, rather than being featured and snonymous with, its primary purpose was to show how society is confined within wanting to change ones own features. However the film highlighted how one women managed to loose who she was and even in the face of loosing her physical personal features (face) she dreamed of going back to the 'old her' the old her that had the confidence, a family and most of all she knew who she was.

two shot of the Nelly Lenz and Lene Winter combined with natural lighting

medium close up combined with a 3-point fill lighting 

Within our own film Virago, I were heavily inspired by the use of bandages shown in Phoenix and how it delivered both an on screen integrity and of screen through the use of a such a simple but imaginative prop. This transpired throughout our film through numerous scenes However our film subverts the narrative within Phoenix as Phoenix never reveals the post-war 'Nelly' as all photos are of her left had side whereas Virago shows post-death Elizabeth within flash backs that Edward frequently suffers. We decided to subvert in this particular manner of revealing Elizabeths identity as we also wanted the viewer to connect and see Elizabeth as a real character and for her to relatable. Relatable in the sense of that when many loved ones pass many are unable to see them as they once was in terms of looks as many only have their own memories recollection of them or through photographs. Edward sees Elizabeth within bandages as it is to represent a more deeper covert emotional expression. Initially to connote how Elizabeth is confided within the bandages: covertly denoting the underlying representation of death. Moreover it is to denote that even though Elizabeth has passed away, she is still vastly trapped through Edwards guilt and mental stability.

Close up of Elizabeth within her white bandages (print screen from rough cut of Virago).

Focused print screen from the rough cut of Virago. Cropped down version to highlight the white wedding dress that Elizabeth is featured in.

The bandages have been kept pure white to express a degree of remaining inner purity but also in resemblance to the main association of white: heaven and to also add to the continuity of the attire Elizabeth is seen and remembered in: white. The figure of Elizabeth in bandages actual meaning was to signify how Edward saw her in every day life rather than a figure of his imagination. He saw how she kept her purity and hidden secrets confined within her cage (body) and which led to her death. We also decided upon the colour white to also suggest that she has passed over and was no longer living however though the use of flashbacks this allowed us to create the illusion of what was really past-reality and were really memories for Edward and what wasn't.