Source of Inspiration- Location in 'The Tourist'

The Tourist is an action drama film. I have been inspired not by the plot but by the contrast between the locations used and the genre. The film begins in Paris, where the main actress Angelina Jolie, walks through the streets of Paris to a small and picturesque coffee shop. 

     




























This scene is contrasting to the actual events that are occurring, the character is being followed by French and British Intelligence, who are tracking her every move. This has inspired me because I like the contrast, as Paris is known to be the 'City of Love' and the contrast subverts the common conventions of action films.

The majority of the rest of the film is set in Venice, which is another romantic city. Again in this location, there is also contrast between the location and the plot. One specific scene is when the two characters, (Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp) go to a Ball. This scene is set in a old, grand ballroom in Venice, yet trouble follows them here. The images below, show the contrast between what would be a romantic film and what is an action film.

During the whole film, the location starts off picturesque and the audience believes the film is a typical romantic film, set in the 'perfect' location, yet the producers and directors have deceived the audience by adding in action to subvert the common conventions of an action film, where the location would normally be in a large city, for example New York, or if it is in Paris, it would be filmed by the big tourist attractions, such as the Eiffel Tour or the Louvre yet instead the directors and producers chose to film in the backstreets in Paris where some viewers would have never been and may not even recognise the city.

This film has inspired me to use contrast in my locations to add interest to the film and make it seem more glamorous and exciting for the viewer.