Cinematography

Cinematography in Taboo

Camera Movement

Establishing crane shot
long shot
close up of hooded character
extreme long shot- isolation
ELS of storm- pathetic fallacy- dark connotations
low angle- superiority

Camera Movement

crane of row boat

handheld- rush of movement- suture

tracking towards ship

hand held tilt up

Depth of Field

Deep focus at end
standard focus
deep focus ties to establishing shot
shallow focus- draws attention to character

Framing

Rule of thirds- left of frame - superior character

Open framing- isolation- freedom?

trapped between masts- trapped/ conflict within character

Response

the cinematography within the opening of Taboo evokes a sense of isolation of the character, through the use of open framing throughout showing a small character alone in a vast land. However, this sense of isolation is drawn away from with the use of hand held close ups and hand held tilt shots which bring the audience into the scene as though they are there with the character, creating an effect of suture, as though the audience are a secondary character with the protagonist. 

The use of establishing shots tied with deep focus are used within the sequence to deliver a great amount of detail of the shot to the audience, when the audience are re-established in land in the sequence, the frame allows the audience to see the ongoing storm above the city, creating pathetic fallacy to connect with the feeling of isolation within the protagonist. it could also be seen that by the establishing shots themselves evoke a feeling of isolation though the open framing in which we first see the character in a small boat, even then it can be debated that the way in which the boat is positioned between the two masts of the ship, the character is trapped within his own personal conflicts. the director has done this to create an instant connection between audience and character orientating around the pity and the sympathy the audience have for the protagonist due to this isolation.