Pulp Fiction

Title: Pulp Fiction

Writer(s): Quintin Tarantino, Roger Avary

Director: Quintin Tarantino

Year: 1994

Actors: Samuel L. Jackson (as Jules Winnfield), John Travolta (as Vincent Vega), Bruce Willis (as Butch Coolidge), Maria de Medeiros (as Fabienne), Ving Rhames (as Marsellus Wallace), Uma Therman (as Mia Wallace), Eric Stoltz (as Lance), Rosanna Arquette (as Jody), Quintin Tarantino (as Jimmie Dimmick), Harvey Keitel (as The Wolf), Tim Roth (as Ringo),  and Amanda Plummer (as Yolanda).

Story: Two hit men for the mob (Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega) retrieving a stolen briefcase for their employer, A boxer (Butch Coolidge) paid to lose his last fight, A gangster’s wife (Mia Wallace) who overdoses on Vincent’s watch, and two robbers in a diner (Ringo and Yolanda) who’s lives are about to change share the screen as their four stories intertwine in this fast, witty crime drama full of  violence and redemption.

Lighting: After careful analysis of this film, I would contend that Tarantino uses not one lighting choice but a variety of lighting styles. We see this variety all throughout the film. However let us take a look at three specific scenes.

In the opening scene, Ringo and Yolanda are sitting in a diner having a conversation. This scene utilizes traditional three-point lighting. From our textbook in ENG 225, Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2011) describe three-point lighting as a style of lighting that is based on careful control of shadows using three main light sources (Section 4.4, para 2). The benefits of using this style of lighting for this scene allow the audience to focus on the pair and the importance of their conversation rather than their surroundings. Had the scene been lit differently, the audience may not have realized just how significant this moment is in the film.

Moving along about 24:00 minutes into the film, we find Butch and Marsellus coming to their agreement about Butch purposely losing his next fight. In this scene, the lighting switches to low-key lighting. Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2011) describe this type of lighting as a “high-contrast lighting dominated by deep shadows with a few bright highlights” (Section 4.3, para 4). The benefit of using his type of lighting is that it intensifies the mood of the scene by sharpening the seriousness of both the characters and the nature of the conversation. This lets the audience know that they are witnessing a very serious interaction. Had this scene been lit differently, the audience may not have understood the depth of Butch’s decision to go back on his word to Marsellus. 

Next, at about 52:00 minutes in, Vincent and Mia just return from the restaurant and are having a night cap. The lighting used in this scene is high-key lighting. Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2011) contends that a high-key lighting design casts a very bright light over everything creating few shadows and a relatively low contrast between the darkest and lightest parts of the scene (Section 4.4, para 1). The benefit of using this style of lighting is that it usually signals happy, funny, or similarly light emotional moments to the audience. For example, Mia is dancing and having a good time in this scene and the lighting helps to tone and shape that mood. However, there is irony in using this lighting choice as Mia eventually overdoses on the heroin she finds in Vincent’s pocket and that is not a happy moment. Tarantino clearly chose this style of lighting on purpose to add a sense of weightlessness to the scene, almost mocking the seriousness of the incident. Had this scene been lit differently, the audience would not have caught on to the irony that Tarantino wished to convey in this moment.

The use of various lighting choices as opposed to a single lighting choice in this film contribute to the theme perfectly. The theme of Pulp Fiction at its core is the various revelations each character in his or her story is experiencing and how those experiences shape their destiny.  As each character is different, undergoing different circumstances, producing different outcomes it is only fitting that the lighting shift accordingly to suit the mood of each individual in each individual scene.

The lighting technique utilized by Tarantino really suits the genre of this film. For all intensive purposes this film is a crime film. However, it comes accompanied by all of the usual Tarantino’s quirks. Therefore, while consistent low-key lighting may be best suited for traditional gangster films such as Goodfellas and The Godfather, this particular flavor of Tarantino calls for a variety of lighting choices to suit its eclectic story line and underlying symbolism.

Resources

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C.P., (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Mike Kraneo. (2007, January 3). are you my nigga?. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DicYF4RQBnU.

MOVIECLIPS. (2011, September 27). Pulp Fiction Official Trailer #1 – (1994) HD. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7EdQ4FqbhY.

Stoycho Ganev. (2012, September 23). Pulp Fiction – Opening Scene. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jomr9SAjcyw.

Ukeladam. (2009, August 1). Pulp Fiction: OD Scene. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKqEWmeZl2Y.