Effective Portrayal of Depression Through Lighting
Intro
The portrayal of mental health in film is often misinformative and stigmatised. It is important to have a realistic portrayal of mental health in films as it enables the audience to relate to the characters and it is important that people who may suffer from mental health issues feel that they are being accurately portrayed. In a recent study it was found that ‘Nearly half (47%) of the characters with a mental health condition were disparaged by other characters in film and 38% in TV. Disparagement manifested itself in the form of name calling, dehumanizing phrases, and stigmatizing behavior. Forty one negative or dehumanizing terms/phrases were used to describe a character with a mental health condition in film and 15 in TV’ Dr Smith,S et al (2019). As a director one main factor that can be used to portray the mental health of a character is lighting and this can be done through a variety of techniques, which will be discussed throughout this essay.
Colour and Brightness
The colour and brightness of lighting is used in the film industry to portray emotions effectively. In order to portray sadness and depression there are three main techniques: Harsh shadows (directional lighting), Blue coloured lighting and Low Key lighting.
‘Side lighting casts shadows that emphasise depth, dimension, and surface texture’ Ascher, S and Pincus, E (1984- revised in 2020). Harsh shadows caused by side lighting create a dramatic effect because they hide parts of the face. This can be used to portray depression because the harsh shadows on the face show how darkness and negative thoughts are consuming the person. This is effective because depression is often described as a consuming darkness that takes over a person, so this lighting technique is successful in portraying depression.
This technique is used in Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012) to effectively show Charlie’s decreasing mental health.
Fig 1: Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012) Dir. Stephen Chbosky
Here side lighting is used to highlight the isolation Charlie feels as well as showing how, although outwardly he may seem happier, his mental health issues still affect him and could overwhelm him at any point. This film highlights how depression and other mental health issues are recurring and incurable. For example Charlie abuses recreational drugs to help him cope with his trauma but this brings to the‘surface shunned fragments of memories, and contribute to the process which in the end, prompts the shocking anamnesis of his sexual molestation as a boy’ Munteanu, A (2016). This highlights the struggles many people with mental health issues face. Although he suffers greatly throughout the film he also has good times, for example when he meets his friends and has treatment in a hospital to help him. Overall this is a good representation of mental health,as one viewer said ‘It was the first time I had seen a movie that had actually gotten it. That understood me.’ Paquin, J. (2016). It also uses lighting effectively to portray Charlie’s suffering and mental health journey through the film.
Through experimenting with lighting I was also able to effectively use harsh and side lighting.
As you can see in the figure above the use of side lighting and the creation of harsh shadows effectively lowers the mood of the shot and gives the feeling of a downcast and more meaningful atmosphere in the shot.
To create this lighting effect the key light was placed to the side of the subject and no fill light or backlight. This created harsh shadows on the face of the subject which achieved the desired effect. The lighting effectively makes the subject feel more isolated which is a common symptom of depression. This lighting could be used to portray a depressed character effectively because the shadows evoke all the right emotions and it is easily used and looks realistic when in the right context.
Blue lighting is another technique used to represent being ‘isolated away from reality, sanity, and every other character in the film. A dark, unfamiliar scheme (blue in this case) that stands out from the rest of the film is a perfect way to demonstrate a character’s detachment.’ Baker, L (2016) The use of blue colour in film can be used to portray depression because it evokes feelings of melancholy, sadness and depression within the audience. Therefore blue lighting very effectively, yet subtly represents a depressed character.
This technique is used in Melancholia (2011) to show the numbness of Justine’s emotions and how she feels disconnected from reality.
Fig 2: Melancholia (2011) Dir. Lars Von Trier
In this scene Justine is faced with the end of the world, however she is completely numb to all emotions about this as the grip of her depression has completely taken hold. Justine’s ‘sufferance gifts her with an unusual philosophic clarity over the meaninglessness of being and the end of the world.’ Munteanu, A (2016). The use of blue lighting in this scene is effective because it demonstrates how her depression has consumed her and she is left feeling numb and empty. The film highlights the all consuming quality of depression through the use of a metaphor which is the planet Melancholia, named perfectly. It demonstrates how the suffering of one person often affects those around them, the destruction of one person’s mental health leads to the suffering of many.
Another example of this technique being used is in Euphoria (2019) to show Rue’s downfall into drug abuse and depression.
Fig 3: Euphoria (2019) Dir. Sam Levison et al
In this scene Rue has relapsed and began abusing drugs again. The blue lighting used in this scene is effective because it demonstrates the downfall of Rue’s mental health and highlights the isolation and despair she feels. This series portrays depression well because it shows clearly the pain and suffering people go through, and highlights the issues surrounding depression and how that can lead to drug abuse.
By experimenting with this technique I was able to achieve the effect as well.
The lighting above shows the subject to be isolated and alone. The blue color makes the human brain think of loneliness and sadness, which are both emotions strongly connected to depression. For this reason blue lighting is a very effective way to portray a depressed character, as it will connect to the audience more and help them understand and sympathise with the character on screen.
Low key lighting is ‘a lighting aesthetic with a lot of shadows to create a sense of mystery or suspense.’ Lynch, D (2021). This is another technique that can be used to portray a depressed character well because it demonstrates the hidden emotions and feelings they suffer with.
Low key lighting is used in Anomalisa (2016) to emphasise the turmoil Michael is going through and to demonstrate how the mundanity of his life has left him feeling unfulfilled and lonely.
Fig 4: Anomalisa (2016) Dir. Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson
The low key lighting is used in this scene to highlight the negative emotions Michael is feeling and to heighten the sense of mystery around what is happening to him. It is also used to show how the repetition and mundanity of his life has left him feeling hopeless and overwhelmed by loneliness. Michael ‘loathes himself and feels alienated from the world’ Rauch, J (2017) this is illustrated by having almost everyone but Michael having the same voice. This paired with the isolating and mysterious lighting effectively shows how lonely he feels and how he feels he can’t trust anyone around him. This leads him to self destruct and sabotage the relationships with the people around him. This is common with people suffering from depression so is a realistic representation. Overall this film is an effective portrayal of depression because it highlights the loneliness and hopelessness felt by people with depression and gives them a character to relate to which can be helpful to people suffering with mental health issues.
In the experiments I completed I also attempted this lighting technique, with varying success.
The second image achieves the effect better as it is darker and has much more subtle shadows. Overall the lighting makes the subject seem more mysterious and a darker character with more depth to them. Using low key lighting is an effective way to portray a depressed character because it creates mystery and intrigue in the character as well as showing their low mood through the low lighting which connects to the audience well and gives a realistic feeling towards the character. Darker lighting for a character suffering from mental health issues like depression is effective because the low mood is reflected in the low light.
Collaboration
The use of lighting is most effective when used in collaboration with other cinematographic techniques like set design, cinematography and sound. This means the Lighting Director will have to work in collaboration with the Director, Director of Photography, Set Designer and Sound Designer. They must all work together to create an effective film, because each scene and shot must involve all of them to create something exceptional. An example of this is in Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012) in the scene where Charlie and his friends are driving through the tunnel listening to music.
Fig 5: Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012) Dir. Stephen Chbosky
This scene works so well and is highly regarded because of the perfect collaboration between departments. First of all, the cinematography. In this scene there are many great tracking shots as well as a slow tilt up as Charlie stands up. These are effective because they allow you to see the scene from lots of angles, showing you each person’s experience of this moment and the significance of it. Also they are very visually pleasing for the audience which captures their attention and makes them enjoy the scene more. Secondly, the set design. In this scene they are driving through a tunnel in a pickup truck listening to loud music. This is a euphoric moment and the choice of setting is satisfying as the audience can imagine the sound reflecting off the walls, and imagine the feeling of driving through a tunnel. Also the use of a pickup truck is effective because it allows the characters to stand in the back of the truck which adds to the feeling of euphoria and freedom. Thirdly, the soundtrack. The Sound Director has chosen Heroes By David Bowie (1977) a relatively well known song that fits the feeling of youthful freedom and hope for the future. Also the sound of the character yelling and screaming with joy as they drive is an effective addition to the scene as it further emphasises the joy they are feeling. Finally, the lighting. The lighting in this scene is made to look realistic as they go through the tunnel by having lights flashing over their faces as they drive, this contributes to the euphoric feeling of the scene and creates a realistic visual experience. Furthermore, this lighting is also effective because it demonstrates how the dark periods of their lives have evolved and gotten better, and how although they may never be free of their problems these feelings are temporary and will fade. Overall, the collaboration between all of these departments has worked effectively in harmony to come together and produce a stunning scene.
Change through time
The perception of mental health issues, such as depression, have changed greatly over time along with the methods used to treat them. In the past, a lack of knowledge about mental health issues led to ‘clumsy diagnoses based on symptoms without biological explanation’ which ‘offered inaccurate accounts about personal suffering’ Munteanu, A (2016). An example of this in film is Ordinary People (1980) which portrays depression in a more rudimentary way, caused by trauma and curable. This is a less effective portrayal of depression because it doesn’t incorporate many people’s experiences of depression and also doesn’t show the use of antidepressants. In this film the lighting techniques commonly used are also less diverse, mostly focussing on low key lighting and side lighting. This makes the portrayal have less of an effect on the audience. A more recent portrayal of depression is Prozac Nation (2001). This film centers around drug abuse and the use of antidepressants, specifically on how often they were given out at this time. Overall, this is a more realistic depiction of depression for many people as it is caused by more internal factors than external. Also the depressed character is treated with a mixture of antidepressants and therapy which is a more modern technique. The lighting used in this film is more advanced and uses more shadows to represent depression, which has a bigger effect on the audience. A modern portrayal of depression is Euphoria (2019). This is also centered around drug addiction and abuse, which is used as a coping mechanism for the characters throughout the series. This modern portrayal of mental health issues is effective because it includes many of the modern day issues people face. It also includes modern treatments and social views on the subject which are more based on the biological facts of mental illnesses, which are proven and not assumed like they were in the past. The lighting used in this series is very modern and uses lots of coloured lighting to express emotions as well as low key and side lighting. This has a strong effect on the audience as it gives them a clue as to exactly what the characters are feeling. This allows them to connect more with the characters.Overall, as we have learnt more about depression and mental health, the portrayals in film have become more realistic and less stigmatising.
Conclusion
Throughout this essay we have discussed the three main lighting techniques used to portray depression: High key lighting, Blue lighting and Low key lighting. Lighting has been key to portraying depressed characters throughout time. At first more basic techniques were used such as low key lighting in Ordinary People (1980), but over time more harsh shadows were used, for example in The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012) where shadows were used more definitely to portray low moods. Finally, blue light began to be seen in films, for example in Euphoria (2019), which further developed how lighting could be used to show emotions and create them within the audience.
We can conclude from this that the blue lighting technique is the most effective technique, because blue is known to ‘create feelings of sadness or aloofness’ Cherry, K. (2020). The colour blue will reflect those feelings onto the audience, as shown in Euphoria (2019), which successfully portrayed a depressed character as discussed earlier. Blue lighting captures the essence of depression well, and is a good visual metaphor for depression. As the well known saying ‘Feeling Blue’ suggests low mood, it is well known within society that blue represents sadness and depression. Therefore, it is a successful lighting method which helps the film maker to portray a depressed character through lighting and develop empathy within the audience.
Bibliography
- Dr. Smith, S, et al. (2019) Mental Health Conditions in Film and TV: Portrayals that Dehumanise and Trivialize Characters:
Mental Health Conditions in Film and TV: Portrayals that Dehumanize and Trivialize Characters
- Pincus, E. & Ascher, S. (1983-2020) A filmmaker’s handbook (fifth edition)
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- Rauch, J. (2017) 14 Movies About Depression That Perfectly Capture the Experience:
14 Movies About Depression That Perfectly Capture the Experience – Talkspace
- Lynch, D. (2021) Film 101: Understanding Film Lighting
Film 101: Understanding Film Lighting – 2022 – MasterClass
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Manipulating the Audience’s Emotions With Color
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https://www.verywellmind.com/the-color-psychology-of-blue-2795815
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Laura Altman 