Call Me Columbus

Exploring the Movie Wit


1) List of Formal Features

• Camera Work: The camera zoomed in really close on peoples' faces at big moments/revelations (when the doctor told her she had cancer at the beginning, realizing she was going to die, etc.). When Vivian is isolated, the camera was zoomed in and focused on her while the other people in the scene were blurry in the background (mirrored Vivian's feelings).
• Music: Wit was more absent of music than a typical movie but had music during some key moments. Some jarring chords at the beginning of the movie. When Vivian and Suzie finally make a strong connection there are major chords and a little triumphant feel. When Vivian is musing about dying the music is a very morose. While Suzie rubs lotion on Vivian's hands it is like prepping Vivian for death and the music was very peaceful.
• Dialect: The dialect of each character gave insights into their personality and motivations. EM Ashford and Vivian both had sophisticated English accents that emphasized their intelligence. Jason had a transatlantic accent that didn't place him but was still a little high-brow. Suzie's dialect was a little more home-y and welcoming, the diction of her character also emphasized her compassion (calling Vivian sweetheart and hon).
• Interaction: Jason doesn't look Vivian in the eyes unless he is talking about research/scholarly things (indicative of finding comfort in intelligence but uncomfortable in relationships). Suzie looks Vivian in the eye almost all of the time (could be indicative of the importance she places on interpersonal relationships). Dr. Kelekian seems condescending (interaction with the residents - eye rolling, and continually asking Vivian if she understands).
• Individual Performances: Vivian's performance was stellar. Her posture/body positioning was very indicative of her feelings - she began slumping, and at the end was always crouched over/in the fetal position. Jason played the part of the stuck-up resident very well. 
• Costumes: For the most part, costumes stayed constant throughout the play. Vivian was in hospital robes except for during her flashbacks, Jason and Suzie stay in hospital scrubs, and Dr Kelekian wears a suit and tie in every scene (plus a white jacket when in the hospital) but is wearing a fancy suit with a bowtie when he decides to put Vivian on a morphine drip. In both of her scenes, Professor Ashford looks very grandmother-ly with sweaters and a shawl (smart and classy but still welcoming and loving).
• Makeup: Vivian's makeup was very well done! For most of the movie (like when she was narrating) she was at beauty base 0, but with no hair. As the movie progressed, she began to have eye bags, her face became less shiny, she got mouth sores/red around the mouth, and she got paler. 
• Narrator: When Vivian was narrating the camera was often semi-zoomed in on her face and she almost always stared directly into the camera, signaling that it was narration/a tangent. The zoom and angle stayed the same during the narration except for when she had an epiphany, in which case the camera zoomed in on her.
• Jason: Only looked at people in the eye when talking about research/scholarly things, but when it came to talking about feelings he was uncomfortable and squeamish. Often left the room or absentmindedly did things without giving thought to the patient's comfort. At the end when he tried so hard to save Vivian and went against the doctor's orders, he said the Vivian was research. Kind of Suzie's antithesis.
• EM Ashford: Seems to be the mentor/wise old sage that represents the healthy balance between scholarly pursuit and compassion. Her costume design (like a grandmother) lent a lot to her character and pulled the scholar and mother-figure together. 

2) After berating Vivian in the flashback about the punctuation in Donne's poems, Ashford tells Vivian to go out with her friends instead of to the library. When she comes to visit Vivian she begins to recite Donne but when she realizes Vivian doesn't want it she holds her and reads about a bunny while still stating the allegorical connections. The last time Vivian is really sentient is when she grabs Ashford's cloak like she's holding on to her last bit of life/humanity; but when Ashford leaves it is gone.

Vivian's interaction with the different characters of the play lends a lot of insight into her personality and her desires. In the past she wanted to stay calm through learning all of the medical terms and looking at cancer through the lens of a scholar. As Vivian's cancer progresses, the way she interacts with others changes and she becomes more crass and compassionate.

Possible Thesis Statements:

Vivian's character development causes her to deepen her relationship with Suzie while shying away from Jason.

Although the people in Wit are very different, each character represents a different facet of Vivian's personality.

Although they studied different fields, Jason typified Vivian as she was in her youth but retains the potential to lead a more balanced life.