Maximus continues to walk, alone, and stops next to a basin. A C.U shot tells the audience that he is washing the blood of his hands, thus emphasising the ferocity of the early battle. In the water we see the water is red from all blood suggesting that lots of people have had blood on their hands in this tent suggesting that they are all soldiers. The water also contains rose petals used to make the water smell better but also to soften the harshness of the battle and make it seem like it was worth it, and to make the battle seem less brutal to the soldier.
We then have a shot reverse shot were we see Maximus looking up and around at the people as though he is looking for someone, when his eyes stop we see him looking distinctly at some one. This is used to make the audience wander who he is looking and bring in a hint of mystery. Then in the next shot we see who he is looking at through a P.O.V shot all used in this clever shot reverse shot, the Emperor which shows the audience that Maximus is very fond of the Emperor and they are close.
This then goes back to a medium shot of Maximus turning and throwing the cloth away to someone or something of screen, he then turns and walks away. This again makes the audience think about where he may be off to now as we don’t see him look at someone again, this helps keep the audience attention as they want to know where he is going and who he is meeting.
The camera pans away with him as he walks; again we see Maximus and his surroundings. So far the mise en scene in this scene is old Roman costumes depicting the time in which this film is set.
The diegetic sounds so far have been people laughing and talking in the background making it seem very friendly and it is a complete contrast to earlier at the battle were everyone was blood-thirsty and violent.
As the camera pans on with Maximus we hear him talking aloud to someone off screen and we hear them talking back. The audience is left wandering again who this person is, but a distinctive familiar voice replies, and the audiences assumptions are confirmed as the camera pans fully across and shows Maximus and his friend from the start of the film embrace. This is used to help make the audience remember the importance of this character in the film.
We hear their friendly banter as they tease joke about each other being ‘still alive’ this confirms their friendship.
We see a close up of Maximus’ face as he hugs the other man, for the first time in this scene we see the General smile, showing the audience that they are good friends.
He then shakes hands with another man whom the audience do not know at all or recognise, he speaks to Maximus and we see the unknown mans face and Maximus friend, Quintus. We can tell that Maximus and the man are friendly but not close.
A shot reverse shot is used when Maximus and the man are talking so we see each person speak and also reply. So the man first speaks to Maximus who replies to both the man and Quintus as he answers to the man who asked him the question but then turns to his friend Quintus as though these two have often discussed what will do when they leave the army, again reinforcing this view that they are close friends to the audience.
Then there is a shot reverse shot between Maximus and Quintus, showing, again each other speaking and answering.
A medium shot then shows the villain, Commodious, interrupting the conversation and immediately when Maximus realises who it is his smile fades telling the audience that perhaps this man is bad and Maximus does not like and therefore the audience think that because the hero does not like him then they won’t either. He bows to the villain and the two Senators in respect
A series of Shot reverse shots are used in this conversation showing each person talking to each other. The villain is dressed very richly as are the two Senators as well, compared to Maximus who is in his battle gear, showing how different they are from one another.
Maximus does not look very much at the people showing that he isn’t comfortable, or he doesn’t like them or even that he isn’t interested in the conversation. They all want to know his opinion on the subject of Emperor or Senate, it seems he does care about it and all that matters to him is getting home.
Just before the villain and Maximus leave the conversation Maximus shoots Quintus a weary glance in a medium shot showing to the audience that he does not want to go with the villain and that he would rather stay with them. The Senators smile and then look at each other, the audience are left wandering what the Senators are thinking about as the camera then moves on.
The next scene is of two women peeking around a curtain. It is a close up shot so the audience can see and recognise her face as being that of the woman in the carriage early on in the film.
The next shot is a p.o.v shot as the audience get to see who the two women are looking at: it shows a crowd of people with the hero, Maximus standing centre at the very back of the shot, this could have been used to create an air of excitement as the audience try to work out who they are looking at or even a sense of mystery but as he walks forward and the crowd move we see distinctly it is Maximus they are looking at, this lets the audience know that he is attractive to the opposite sex.
It is then truly confirmed that is Maximus she is looking at as she says his name maybe telling the other girl who he is this is shot in a medium shot showing the two from the side standing close together looking out.
The shot then cuts away to Maximus and the villain talking to each other in a medium shot showing both of them and again the back ground. There is a shot reserve shot of the conversation as they talk to each other. Maximus looks bored maybe sick of this person maybe he even loathes him, he does not like him. The camera cuts to the Emperor in a Maximus’ p.o.v shot showing again this is who Maximus respects and likes.
The scene shows that the villain wants to use Maximus to help him be a good Emperor and that he is jealous of him when he says ‘now you’re the great man’ and also that Maximus is weary of the villain. We also hear the villain say a woman’s name and thus the audience can link that name to the woman who was watching him earlier. It also informs the audience that Maximus may like the woman or they are married or in love or have previously been together, so this sparks of an interest in the audience.
In the next scene Caesar enters a tent (perhaps his quarters) we see him enter and we are looking in at the side, seeing the two women spying. This creates a sense of tension and panic as we know they will be caught and that they are doing something they shouldn’t be.
As Caesar turns, he sees the women and we see his expression in a medium shot he looks surprised and curious but not angry. We then see the two women from Caesars p.o.v shot as they see him and move away as though they have been naughty and they back away from the curtain. The curtain incidentally is coloured red which detonates passion and love and danger which can be seen in this scene i.e. her love for Maximus, the danger of being caught etc.
We then see Caesar through the woman’s p.o.v. shot showing that they are connected in some way i.e. father and daughter. An over the shoulder shot shows her coming over to him, and then an over her shoulder shot of her kissing him, showing that they are in deed close and are father and daughter.
And a shot reverse shot of their conversation.
The scene then cuts away out side showing the rest of the camp away from the parties and feasts. The establishing shot is a long shot showing rows and rows and rows of tents lined up. There is a special effects blue filter on the camera making the scene look cold as in contrast to the warm and cosy party. This is where the common soldier lives.
There is a camera dissolve as the camera zooms in to a specific part of the camp where the flag is a long way a way thus showing the size of the camp.
There is a very similar camera styles used here as there was in side at the party, we see Maximus in a medium shot and panning across showing him and his surroundings, he is smiling here though, he is more at home out with the men and more comfortable and he can be himself. We hear the men speaking in the background, doing things, moving etc. And we also hear non-diegetic music playing in the background as well making it more peaceful and calming and emphasising Maximus’ mood out here.
The audience see him laughing, talking to the men thus emphasising how comfortable he is and how he likes these men better than those at the party.
A special effect is also used heavily in this scene and that is the snow which is clearly computer generated as it does not settle on any one, this makes it seem much colder out there than at the party.
We also see him brushing his horse and how relaxed he is out there where he is at home and peaceful.
There is here a use of an eye line match where Maximus looks over at a scene we cannot see, then we see it from his p.o.v and see what he sees: which the villain is showing off in a clearing where all the men are topless and are fighting. There is a zoom and the camera focuses in on the men and showing the audience who they are thus quenching their curiosity. This scene is used to show that the villain wants to show off but he is a coward as he missed the war earlier, he has something to prove.
