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3.1.16.1 Legs and feet and walking and running.
** Where do legs and feet feature prominently in
the film?
The film opens with people strolling peacefully through Hagley Park and
Christchurch, in the newsreel footage. The Prologue concludes with the jarring 'flight'
sequence, intercut with the first 'ship' fantasy, both primarily shots of legs and feet,
and running. The second 'ship' scene also featured legs. The opening scenes of CGHS and
Pauline all feature feet and legs, shoes, sandals, sockettes and stockings. Later, we see
synchronized leg-lifts in the playful "PhysEd" sequence. Legs and feet, by then
a familiar motif, are used in agonizing, slow-motion counterpoint to their usual kinetic
appearance in the final "Humming Chorus" walk.
** Where does 'walking' appear in the film?
Walking is the theme of the opening choral piece under the titles, "Just A
Closer Walk With Thee" and, of course, of the closing piece under the credits,
"You'll Never Walk Alone." Jackson uses walking in a reverential fashion, as a
reference to religious or spiritual themes. And to the calm acceptance of destiny or fate
that seems to accompany acts of faith--like showing up to the first day of school, or
committing murder.
** How are images of running used by Jackson?
Jackson uses legs and feet and especially running to bring across a kinetic urgency
to the narrative, and to make concrete the idea that the girls are in a constant state of
attempted escape from their lives, escape from their fates. They are also impatient,
running toward their new life, together. In the first two ship scenes (see 3.1.16.13),
Pauline is running in pursuit of Juliet, chasing the dream of a happy new life with her.
Pauline bursts through the doors and runs to Juliet in the first sanatorium visit. In
addition, adolescence is a time of great, rapid change and exuberance, and the motion on
the screen communicates the restlessness and energy of this period in their lives. Jackson
uses running in this way in the "Princess of Ilam" scene, the "Donkey
Serenade" scenes at "The Great Caruso" (running past the "Jamaica
Run" poster) and the "ecstatic disrobing" sequence, the "Biggles"
sequence, the "play-acting at Ilam" scenes. Running in apprehension or fear is
used in the beginning of the "Port Levy revelation" sequence, the "flight
from 'It'" sequence, and in the Prologue 'flight' sequence, of course.
