Mississippi Burning

Film techniques are an essential aspect of a successful and engaging film. This is presented clearly in the 1988 film, Mississippi Burning where the director Alan Parker manages to generate the tense and dark mood of the various important scenes through camera shots & angles, lighting and dialogue techniques. “What has four eyes but cannot see...Mississippi” These words by the character Rupert Anderson perfectly summarises how the public and justice system of Mississippi refuse to see and acknowledge the injustice occurring with the innocent souls on a daily basis. How they refuse to see the strength of unity and slay any attempts of peace and justice even before they begin. In scenes with such intense content, it is through the usage of the

This fact is evident in the opening scene of the church burning using a pan shot which starts at a low angle. The low angle of the burning church establishes the sense of superiority that the violence and injustice has in this film. Through this, Parker manages to set the tone of tension portrayed throughout the film, as well as establish the dominance of violence over justice in the upcoming incidents in the film. Following this scene is an establishing long shot of the three cars on a lonely road at night. After beginning with a long shot, the scene gradually changes to a medium shot introducing the audience to the characters and their fears of being followed. The long shot used in this scene establishes the notion of prey and predator as the human rights activists are being followed. This shot creates the tension of the scene making the audience anticipate the forthcoming violent end to the ‘hunt’. Gradually, as this long shot changes to a medium shot of the characters’ faces, the fear on their faces becomes apparent, the audience becomes aware of the impending violent treatment of the 3

This is made apparent in one of the dialogues delivered by a Ku Klux Klan member, Clayton Townley, “…They hate Mississippi! The hate us because we represent a shining example of a successful segregation…” This dialogue delivered with immense pride and annoyance sets a very menacing tone to the scene as the audience realizes the extent of hatred and heartlessness with which the African Americans are seen. Agent Ward as a reply to Mayor Tilmon’s question, delivers another Powerful dialogue, “it’s (baseball game) is the only time when a black man can wave a stick at a white man and not start a riot.” This dialogue delivered with mocking seriousness establishes the extent of violence portrayed in the film as it indirectly narrates the menacing gravity of what an African Americans’ assumingly harmless actions can lead