English 2.4-Jack Miller

When someone makes a decision, they base it in accordance with a small extent of different factors. A major component of the decision-making process for many people, especially the better ones, is morality. Morality is defined as “principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong” or essentially, ones’ judgment between what is bad or good. In the Coen Brothers’ 1996 film “Fargo”, the conception of morality and the consequences that face those who lack it is illustrated through the manipulation of various film techniques throughout. Examples of such cinematography can be identified in the film from examples such as the presentation of the character of Norm consistently being shown in a two-shot mid shot with his wife Margie, which illustrates those who have solid morals will be rewarded for such favorable qualities, or when a mid shot through blinds aimed at the lying Jerry foreshadows him being thrown in prison for his deceitful ways, conversely, through the absence of accents of the bounty hunters from the story, it can be observed that unlike the rest of the cast, who possess thick accents, these characters are particularly violent, and are punished accordingly.

The first film technique that illustrates the idea of morality and its consequences is the constant portrayal of Norm always by his wife’s side. It can be observed throughout the film that a special effort is made to consistently portray Norm, Margie’s husband, in a two-shot with her. This can be observed early in the visual text when Margie is leaving for work. Despite the fact that they are in different rooms, the couple is shown in a long shot two shot. This is not, it should be noted, an isolated occurrence in the film. In every scene that Norm is present, he can be seen next to Margie. A two shot is used to show equality between characters, to show the viewer that the characters in the shot have a sense of mutual respect- It can be consequently deducted from this, that Norm is a faithful, caring husband who loves Margie very much and will not leave her side. It is shown and implied by this that Norm is a man with good, strong morals, and for this, the film’s plotline rewards him. Unlike the majority of the main cast, who end up in prison, or dead, the film shows, through the use of a simple two-shot mid-shot, the importance of knowing the value family, not money, not power. The happy couple who knew that being loyal and trustworthy, unlike the villains of the plot, such as Jerry, who risked his wife’s wellbeing merely because of money, or Gaear, who killed a friend for a similar reason. As Margie said, “ And for what? For a little bit of money. There’s more to life than a little money, you know. ” The directors show through this line from Margie that she and her husband have the same, family-before-money morals, something which directly, in the end, leads them to be the only characters who have a happy ending – they are rewarded for a true, steadfast grasp on the idea of morality.

The following facet to be analyzed from the visual text that is bestowed upon the audience by the film’s directors is the use of an eye-level mid shot through some blinds present in Jerry Lundegaard’s office and their representation of the prison bars Jerry is going to have to face because of his lack of a moral compass. As this scene is shot, Jerry is on the phone to the loan officer, lying about the cars that they have bought, and where one of them is. The film, in this section, is showing the audience that Jerry lying is trapping him more and more within his plan, and the more he diverts away from his morals simply in order to gain some money. He sacrifices what he believes in, the people he loves’ safety, for his own personal gain. He does not stop to question what he is doing, which shows an absence of all morality within. He cares not of others, but only about what he needs to do to obtain what material goods he desires. Using the blinds as a metaphor or for foreshadowing shows that in the Coen’s universe, those who stray from the path of righteousness receive punishment for their sins.

In addition to the previously scrutinized use of cinematography of the Coen brothers’ film, “Fargo” to present the interpretation of people’s morality and the consequences that correlate with each character’s sense of the importance of it. An interesting use of film techniques that the directors have implemented throughout the film is the presence of the use of dialogue in the form of accents that some characters possess, especially the difference between those who live in Brainerd, who have thick accents in comparison with the hitmen, who do not have them. To be understood what is meant through this seemingly pointless film technique and use of dialogue, the natures of the characters must be examined. When the viewer compares Margie Gunderson, someone who has an accent, with a character such as Gaear, the reason for this use of dialogue becomes blatantly apparent to the audience. Margie possesses an accent, and compared with Gaear, is a very different character altogether. Gaear is shown to be a violent, constantly cursing man, someone with no morality or remorse when it comes to these violent tendencies, a stark contrast with the kind, peaceful Margie, who is barely shown to display any anger or violent tendencies throughout the film, even when she shoots Gaear- It was what was demanded by her job to prevent the criminal from eluding capture. The point that accents relate directly to ones’ morality when it comes to violence can be observed throughout the film, and it can also be clearly observed. Whilst Jerry did get caught by the police, he was not shot, because unlike Gaear or Carl, he never displayed any kind of violent tendencies, never killed or even swore like the two hitmen. As a result of his morality in this sense, he did not have to suffer through anything such as a bullet wound throughout the duration of the story. Through the portrayal of this concept, the Coens have shown the audience that in this world it is far better to always look for the non-violent approach even when in trying times, one should never resort to injuring another human, as the consequences will be dire.

Morality is an idea of huge importance for humans. Whilst the world may be filled with those who are willing to forget about it in order for personal gain, there also, whilst rarer, those who will never divert from what they know is right in order to obtain anything. These people are the ones that keep the world running smoothly, and without them, the human race would inevitably collapse into a churning messy ocean of anarchy, filled with violent, deceitful and selfish creatures. The Coen brothers set out to show through their film “Fargo” that whilst the path of fewer morals can be, in the short term, profitable, it is those who keep on the righteous path that ultimately benefits and will reap the rewards of the hard work they put into life. To present such an idea to their viewers, the Coens use various film techniques, such as consistently presenting a character to be faithfully at his wife’s side, or using a mid shot through blinds aimed at someone in the process of lying to foreshadow that the blinds will become prison bars as a result of his lack of morality. Another technique explored and exploited by the directors in the visual text was dialogue, where characters with accents had more morals than those without, resulting in those without, who possessed far more violent personalities to face harsher punishments for their lack of respect for other peoples wellbeing, and although they knew that their actions were unjust, they committed them anyway.