Colour imagery is shown strongly when trying to define characters. It is noticed most in Canada as the Jamaicans stand out. You notice this instantly in the first scene set in Canada. In Jamaica everybody wears bright colours. In Canada everybody wears subdued blues and blacks. So when the Jamaicans un-board their plane they stand out like sore thumbs instantly. All you see are these brightly clothed people who don’t seem to see the complications in life. Colour imagery is not only used to represent Jamaican’s personalities it also defines the Germans. The Germans always generally wear black, I later came to the conclusion this was to represent evil and the enemy as they were constantly against the Jamaicans in many ways including racially. The coach was also defined by colour. Depending on how he felt toward the team he would dress accordingly. When Derise and Sanka were trying to persuade him to coach them he was dressed in sombre blues which represented his hostility towards them. When they were in Canada on the bobsled track and when they were training he wore bright coloured scarves which represented his support to his team. Junior’s dad’s character is also defined by colour. Unlike the rest of the people in Jamaica he wears sombre colours. He shows he is part of Jamaica though by wearing one piece of bright clothing. He however like Coach, changes as his feelings toward the team changes. At the end of the film when he finally accepts his son being in a bobsled team he supports the team by wearing a bright Jamaican shirt.
Colour imagery is not only used to define character and personality, but to show potential unity between the main characters; Derise, Sanka, Ul-brenner, Junior and the Coach. Unity is shown mainly in Derise, Ul-brenner, and Junior. This is because they are the serious Olympic competitors. Unity through colour is shown very early on in the film in the Jamaicans Olympic 100m sprint try-outs. Together Derise, Ul-brenner, and Junior are sporting the Jamaicans flag colours. Derise is in Green, Ul-brenner is in black, and Junior is wearing yellow and black.
At the meeting for the bobsled team selection the final team is dressed in different styles of red tee-shirts, showing they are united once again. In Canada Junior unites the team with the coach by giving him a Rastafarian hat. Unity is not only showed between characters but between the characters and the Olympics. When the Jamaicans go to buy snow clothes they buy the Olympic colours; red, yellow, green, blue and black.
Finally colour imagery is used to show the growth of professionalism within the team. At the beginning where they first see a sled and try to ride one, they are all wearing ridiculous clothes and colours. As they progress they’re colours are tamed down and at the very end they have a professional bobsledding uniform. Representing they’re country’s colours.
In conclusion it is obvious that colour imagery is used throughout the film in many different aspects. We are shown through colour imagery, the mood of settings, the definition of characters, how the team unite throughout the film, and how the Jamaicans personalities grow and adapt to each of their surroundings.
