ABSTRACT
A scene’s narrative context plays a crucial role in how effectively a lens technique can communicate an idea, what happens in other scenes can also influence how it is interpreted by an audience. This is especially the case when the context of the scene in which a technique is presented is unclear or ambiguous. An excellent example of this use of a dolly zoom can be seen in Director Jonathan Glazer’s stylish neo-noir thriller Sexy Beast. The story follows Gal, a retired ex-convict living in Spain who is mentally and physically abused by Don, a sociopathic gang enforcer who was ordered to recruit him for one more heist. During the course of the dolly zoom, Don’s demeanor grows visibly angrier, as if he were holding back an unbridled rage that could explode at any moment; at one point he even stares directly at the camera, seemingly confronting the audience itself for intruding into his personal space.
