Notes on Leon Mise-en-Scene

Costume 

• Leather jacket - symbolises danger and someone who is related to gangs
• At the beginning, Mathilda is wearing a dress. This makes her seem quite innocent and extracted from the voilence happening all around her.
• Mathilda's mother is wearing a leopard print tip - dresses quite inappropriately for a mother and suggests to the audience that this is an unconventional family
• Later on in the film, Mathilda is dressed in inappropriate clothing for her age - this suggests that she is forced to wear this sort of clothing by her family, and that she does not see much of life outside her home, which would make Mathilda think that this is normal.

Lighting

• Quite dull and low, especially in the corridor of the flats.
• Lots of artificial lighting used, makes the scene seem quite clinical
• Sometimes, for example when Mathilda went to the shop, bright daylight is used. This shows contrast to the world that Mathilda comes from.

Props

• Plant and water sprayer in Leon's flat. They appear in the centre of the shot which shows their importance. Plant also indicates life and innocence. Leon takes an awful lot of care over this plant, spraying each leaf individually. Almost suggests that this is a substitute for a child or a pet. This level of care is in contrast to Mathilda, who has nothing to look after and no-one to care for her
• Guns, knives and weapons used in the holster on Leon's belt. Suggests that he is wanted, and has to be armed at all times.
• Leon has a very basic kitchen, with an old fridge, and a messy, unclean work surface. Suggests that he does not have much time to take care of these things.
• Leon is seen drinking milk from two carton's, which is not normal for a grown man who is very voilent
• We often see fans at the windows of the property - these suggest that the weather is hot, perhaps giving a sense of location.
• A small photo of Mary is on Leon's table. This shows that he has some religious beliefs, and perhaps hopes for forgiveness. Also puts gun next to the photo, which is again, not normal.
• Leon has some odd looking sunglasses, which he puts on before turning off the light to go to sleep. Again, not normal, and shows he has to protect his identity at all times.
• In Mathilda's home, the telephone rings, interrupting the arguments and voilence occurring in the family home.
• Leon also gives a tissue to Mathilda to wipe her bleeding noes, which shows that he has a caring side to him.
• The shot of Mathilda's nose bleeding just before all of her family are shot dead signifies danger, subtly warning the audience of what is about to happen.

Setting

• Dull, dimly lit corridor, painted with bland colours - cream and bronw, which suggests harshness and danger.
• Leon's flat is much the same, with harsh panels of concrete and an untidy house.
• The home of Mathilda and her family is qyute ikd fashioned, with an old looking television and old furniture. Appears to also be quite grand, in contrast to the other flats we have seen.
• The sun and calm outside with a bright veranda is in contrast to the action inside.