Tadashi

In the opening scene to Beatles musical "Across The Universe', the audience is brought into a juxtaposition of two characters dancing simultaneously, however in different parts of the world. The film opens to prom night at a high school in America. The film is predominantly blue and white, light colours giving the whole scene an air of ignorant and youthful playfulness that the time period (early 60s) is thought to project. Clean cut, pro white america. A rockabilly band plays a clean sounding effectless and often harmonized version of the beatles' "Hold Me Tight". In fact, the girl centered in the film shot is singing the lead, and the charming well groomed men on stage are harmonizing and back-up singing for her. The scene quickly changes to a dimly lit underground club/pub somewhere in England. The musical style suddenly changes, in the same song, as a different live band, predominantly wearing dark clothes and leather singing a 60s british youth revolt style rock and roll cover of "Hold Me Tight". The screen is predominantly dark coloured, and what little light is permitted mostly comes from blue tinted lights off on the side, allowing for the smoke to be lit above the crowded dancing crowd. The attitude of the main guy in the shots is also quite different, juxtaposing the idea of youth revolt in Brittain and the perfect "American Dream" ideas in America at the time. Despite the fact that the two styles are distinct opposites, the two work well together to create and entertaining first scene. American charm (light coloured suits, beautifully lit prom, balloons, well groomed and well suited band) vs British charm (underground, sexyness, leather, edginess/grittiness).

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