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3.1.16.10 Birds and butterflies.
** Where do we see butterflies?
We see giant butterflies in the first vision of the Fourth World at port Levy. Why?
Probably because they could be done on the computer system Jackson had available. They
were a nice image of pretty, innocent, fantastic flying beasts but that's all I would read
into them.
** What is the significance of birds?
Birds, on the other hand, are of much greater significance in the film. There are
three different types of references to birds in the film: * First, birds are omnipresent
in the soundtrack, and their singing and calling are used very, very effectively in
several scenes, especially the murder scene. After the "Humming Chorus" ends,
there is a pause as the sound comes back to 'live' sound. Then there is a single, hesitant
bird that calls out. And then Pauline strikes her first blow. * Second, birds are referred
to in the Rieper house. There is a bird cage on the kitchen table, and Bert says he is
going to build a bird house in the back. Both are oblique references to Pauline's life
with her family--she already lived in a cage in the back, obviously built by her father,
and her life was stifling and confining in that house. * Third, we actually see no birds
at all in the film. Where are they all? They are living free. Birds are used as metaphors
for Pauline and Juliet and glorious, natural freedom.
