MISE-EN-SCENE Inside Llewyn Davis

The first shot of the sequence  takes place on a subway. A 35 mm film was used for this particular scene (and the entire film). A single-camera set up was used and this shot is a medium shot. The point-of-view is from the passenger sitting on the other side of the aisle looking at Llewyn.  The composition in this scene is very still with little movement going on in the background. The only thing we see moving are the poles, which shift slightly up and down from the movement of the subway, but the camera is still. The bench is empty and the scene has a lonely, empty, depressing mood to it. Llweyn and the cat are the only characters that exist in this shot. The low or dim lighting creates a very sad emotion. Sound wise we here the noise from the subway traveling and nothing else.

This second shot is a medium shot reflecting a reaction shot from Llewyn's point-of-view.  Again it is filmed in 35 mm film using a single-camera set up. The composition includes a passenger sitting on the train looking or staring at Llewyn. The passenger is the only one sitting on the wide open bench. It feel like the only two people that exist on the subway are Llewyn and the passenger. It feels empty and lonely. The passenger is dressed in a 1960's style jacket, hat, and glasses. The passenger is looking at Llewyn because we assume he is carrying a cat with him. The lighting is still dim and the mood is still depressed. There is a little more light above then the previous shot but the continuity is still there between shots. The sound is the same with only the noise of the subway.

The third shot is a medium close up shot of Llewyn. The framing has Llewyn to the left and we see the doors of the subway to the right. We barely see the cats head although we see Llewyn's hand on the cats head petting it. Llewyn's face is intense. He has an expression of "don't mess with me" that he is projecting that to the other passenger. The composition focuses mainly on his facial expression and the tension within him. It seems the cat is the only thing that consoles him. The lighting continues to be dark and depressing and the only noise we here is the subway moving. 

This fourth shot is a medium close up shot in the elevator. The lighting is dim and there is pure silence. The composition uses Llewyn holding the cat and looking down. The frame of Llewyn is to the right. The mood feels lonely and quiet.