In a film that’s about marital commitment and loyalty, Stanley Kubrick surely uses a lot of masks in his visuals in Eyes Wide Shut. Is he hinting at what we’re all thinking of? That, in the real world, most relationships, especially marriages, are built on white lies, with two people wearing masks 24/7. Now, that necessarily doesn’t mean that one doesn't mean well for the other, but is intimacy even possible without secrets? And what happens when one of the two masks is ripped off? Does one tear it down to come out clean, or just put on a new one over it?These are a few of the many questions, rather thoughts, that race through my mind anytime I watch Kubrick’s last film, Eyes Wide Shut, a psychological drama about a simple couple with complex desires.Coming back to masks, the greatest scene with a mask in Eyes Wide Shut is the one where Dr. Harford’s wife, Alice (Nicole Kidman), lies fast asleep on their bed, with her husband’s Venetian mask lying on his side of the bed, right next to her. Not going to lie, but the shot leaves me with an eerie feeling. In this article, we analyze the iconic shot of Alice with the mask to uncover how that one image was actually a verdict on their relationship. To Give You a Little Context Dr. William Harford (Tom Cruise), AKA Bill, was a devoted husband and father, who was happily married, with a six year old daughter, until...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Wednesday, 15 October