Yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you! Today, we’re looking at wallpaper in films, not just as background decoration but as something with its own narrative weight. It turns out, wallpaper can do much more. It tells stories, conveys hidden messages, and becomes an integral part of the visual aesthetic. Sounds weird? Well, let’s take a look at some great film examples that prove the point. This topic was inspired by an Instagram post. I was scrolling through my feed (a bad habit that only sometimes pays off), and stumbled upon a collection of film stills with outstanding wallpaper. That got me thinking. Certainly, wallpaper in production design is a great tool to make a shot more attractive. White walls are dull, and most cinematographers I know avoid shooting at them at all costs. Yet, when wallpaper is so eye-catching, it can definitely play a more specialized role in the frame. What role? Here are some interesting ideas. Traveling in time through wallpaper in films The most obvious answer is that wallpaper can be a signifier of a particular period or culture. Remember the Art Deco mansion of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in “The Great Gatsby?” The wallcoverings in the film pay homage to the glamorous style popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The common themes of those days included zigzags, chevrons, and stylized floral designs. Thus, the set decorations were picked to represent that period authentically. A film still from “The Great Gatsby” by Baz Luhrmann, 2013 Another example is from...
Published By: CineD - 6 days ago