Micro Techniques and Relevance:
- Multiple locations are used in this scene to show the magnitude of the event and how much of American pulled together to help out.
- The soundtrack is very patriotic and has an air of success about it yet the well being of the astronauts is still unknown by the spectator until the end of the scene.
- Red light is used to show the heat of the ship as it gets closer to earth, unknown if this is what it will really look like. However, I feel it is artistic license to get a point across.
- Titling is used to show location of where this ship will land: South Pacific. Date is also shown: April 17th, 1970. This may have been done to remind the spectator that it is a real event and even though the un-realness of the events has swept over them they have to reminded.
- A somber camera tracking shot is used when two men are discussing the possibilities that the men may not make it back alive. This shows that there was little faith in success.
Characterization and Relevance:
- We are shown two sides of NASA at Houston, one side is commanded by Gene who is the definition of the American dream and one side that shows the doubt and constant worry for money. By having these two conflicting sides it helps to bring the film to reality.
- The men in the ship show respect for one another and I feel this is to represent the real men and help to define them as characters at this particular moment.
- The families of the men are extremely happy and this shows the relief for the whole of the film simply through the way they act when the men land.
Messages and Values:
- The message of the scene is that persistence is key and the fact that no one gave up in the process let to a success. Later backed up in the film with the quote "NASA's most successful failure".
- The American dream is a message throughout the scene as it shows the safe arrival of the men who are now heroes along with the whole of NASA.
- Another message is family and loss, although there is no loss in the scene a feeling of loss is felt when they are considered to have not made it.
Narrative Devices/Features and Relevance:
- The scene uses suspense as it actually mirrors the time it took for everyone to find out if they had survived. So the four minutes and twenty seconds the people at the time waited so did the audience. This is to help the audience experience and understand the events far better.
- Restricted narration is used as the spectator is not shown the inside of the ship and only the people on earth so once again the audience is made to experience the wait.
- A feeling of sudden relief is created though the narrative of the film as the feeling is felt by all the characters.
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