Color In Pleasantville

Words: 486
Pages: 2

Pleasantville Black and white films fill the viewer with nostalgia of a happier simple time. The black and white films bring us back to a time when the problems of life seemed black and white also. Problems were easily solved with clear cut answers. Color in films introduced choices and diversity. The color used in films can tell as much about the film as the plot. They vibrant or dull colors set the background of the story in films. The addition of color in the movie Pleasantville becomes another character in the movie. The movie changes to black and white when David and Jennifer are sucked into the 50’s television show Pleasantville. As the characters begin to change and grow, color appears. Color and the lack of color, are integral to the plot of Pleasantville as characters and items begin to morph into color as they mature. David and Jennifer find themselves in Pleasantville, in black and white, in more ways than just the color. Pleasantville is simple and easy. Nothing ever happens, except a cat in a tree, and folks are happy and perfect. Everyone on the basketball team scores a basket every time. Everything about the town’s people is perfect and wonderful. Even the weather is perfect. However the people are one dimensional, and bored, even if they are …show more content…
Color is used to convey the resolution of the film and the town’s growth into maturity. Color identifies the depth in characters that are no longer one dimensional, but possess feelings and questions. Color adds that special nuisance to films that helps the viewer with the feel of characters, plot and the setting. Color can be used to set the mood in films. In Pleasantville, the color brings so much more than red, green, orange and blue. Color brings life to the town that no longer loops around into itself. Color brings literacy and learning as books begin to populate in the library. Color brings equality when the entire town becomes