The Graduate Analysis

In the movie The Graduate, cinematic history was made with a lot of unique camera shots, along with the use of common camera work to express emotion and set a tone for specific scenes. For example, within the first five minutes of the movie we see extreme close-ups when Ben walks through the part at his parents house. It creates a sense of claustrophobia and no ones full body is show.  Certain techniques can be used to make meaning, and no technique has the same meaning (Ryand and Lenos, 9). Since the camera was so close to each person’s face and also shaky, it was probably a handheld camera. After that, the relationship between Ben and Mrs.Robinson is established in the two-shot in his bedroom. She walks in and lounges very comfortably in his room while he stands there uncomfortably. The two person shot allows us to see the distant that Ben puts between the two of them and how the two interact. Camera work also helps set the scene when Mrs.Robinson is first trying to seduce Ben. A close-up of his face is done, which shows him sweating, fearful, and uncomfortable. There are then jump shots when Mrs. Robinson shuts the bedroom door from Ben’s face to Mrs.Robinson’s body and tanlines. The shots of Ben’s face show panic and express the adrenaline Ben is feeling. Another shot that really captures the suspense and nerves Ben is feeling in the film is the long shot of him walking down the hotel hallway his first night with Mrs.Robinson. This shot really expresses Ben’s feelings because there is no music or sound except what he hears while walking in the hallway.

            This movie also has a lot symbolism in the water that is seen in the film, along with the use of blank and white colors. The water in the film can be seen as a symbol of Ben’s purity, but as the film goes on Ben loses this sense of purity by having an affair, drinking, and smoking. This reflected later in the movie when the father is seen skimming the pool of all the dirt. The black and white stripes in the Robinsons kitchen, the clothing they wear, and the swim cap the mother owns are symbolic of Ben feeling trapped. This is also reflected when Ben is in the scuba suit and his vision is from his point of view and is very limited, the outside voices are muffled, and all he can hear is his breathing. This creates a claustrophobic feeling like one is trapped.

            Another cinematic camera tactic that is used in this movie is an establisher shot. When Ben goes to Berkley to meet Eileen, there is a pan shot of him driving through the woods and also the bridge to establish where he is. This also gives the sense that he has been driving long and far to get to her. These are just a couple of shots that were used in the graduate, along with the use of symbolism that was then copied for years to come.