The scene I chose to analyze was the scene when he finally saw what happened to his home. There were several things to notice in this scene. Basically after Maximus has avoided his death he travels all the way back to see what has happened to his home. As he travels he reminisces on quick glimpses of his childhood combined with other elements of what has happened to him. When he finally gets back home he sees what has happened and breaks down and cries.
During this scene there is alot going on as far as colors, camera angle, and sound goes. There are varying terrains that he goes through as he rides his horse back to his home. He went through snow, brown desert and into the barren wasteland. Not only does the terrain change but what we see changes. As he rides, there are transitions from us seeing him race to his home and his memories of him as a child in a garden. The memory shots were very colorful and vivacious. The green forage that surrounded him during these scenes represented life. During one of the memory shots, however, an army of horsemen came trampling him in the middle of his recess. It is unclear whether or not this is something that has actually happened or whether it was strictly symbolic. There were also alot of close-ups on the horses feet and on Maximus' face.
Ridley Scott's varying shots basically were to provide contrast to what has just happened while at the same time giving a glimpse in to the pure yet hardened heart of Maximus. Gladiator started off with Maximus being loved and revered and enjoying his duty as a soldier. However, in an instant things change for the worst and he is now in a negative position. His memories of his pleasant past combined with the soldiers trampling him in the same instant can be seen as a parellel to his current situation. All of these varying terrains show what he is going through internally.
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