It was also known that the French would poison select bottles of their wine in anticipation of German looting. (Since wine would surely be taken in the plunder). Landa asking for the milk was unexpected as it’s unlikely to be laced and reveals he’s not falling for any tricks.
@@dr.mark.b.hubble to be honest most directors dont do this much. But this is a great scene to demonstrate what directors should be doing and what level of thought should go into the coverage. But once yiu get it you can see which directors are doing it and which ones dont
I think the poison is a great catch, however, in the scene, since we see the soldiers waiting outside, it would have been a suicide assassination before they really understood the threat they faced. Possible, but not probable. Still, the comment makes the chess match more intriguing.
@@TwoFoxGibbon In a fictional movie, it’s all speculation anyways. Maybe he just wanted some fresh milk…lol. Dairy products were a theme throughout the movie, adding an element of suspense to the cat and mouse relationship between Landa and Shoshana. At the dinner, we all wondered if he knew she was Shoshana and was teasing her by ordering milk for her and cream to put on the strudel. :)
Missed one thing. When Landa is complimenting the daughters beauty in saying “The village rumors of your family are true” also has the implication that the village had rumors of the family hiding away Jews. This whole scene is a masterpiece all on to its own.
Also notice how Landa lingers on Charlotte's hand when meeting her and uses his fingers to check her pulse, then does the same to another one of the girls when he asks for milk instead of wine.
The Frenchman is a phenomenal actor in portraying someone trying to not look guilty when talking to a cop. Which I’ve done many times so it stands out to me
@@brandonbuchner1771 It's possible that's what they were going for, however his hand position isn't quite right to get a pulse as his fingers are not on the radial artery. From a story perspective that could be the case, but from a realistic physiological perspective it can't be happening.
People always rave about Waltz's performance, and it is brilliant but Denis Ménochet is every bit as good in this scene. The way he breaks down as Waltz breaks him down is just amazing. A extremely proud and strong man being broken.
Indeed. Landa steals every scene he's in, but all of Tarantino's actors are giving a top-notch performance. In basically every movie of his. LaPadite is no difference, he was impeccable.
I also like how hanz uses two different versions of good bye, since in french you have “Adieu” which would be used if you didn’t expect to see that person again, which is what hanz used while ordering the execution of the family, and the other version is “au revoir” which can be translated to “we will see each other again” which is what he called out to shoshana
Something I always loved about the French in this movie, it’s a masterful use of grammar and vocabulary that viewers who don’t speak French wouldn’t get.
@@MagicManxabperhaps “cementing” Q.T.’s “genuis” is precisely the main objective of said comments! Having said that, it is a FACT that Tarantino is catagorically, definitively, a genuis!
I love how Christophe Waltz plays Hans Landa. In so many war films, the SS are portrayed as aggressive and shouting at everybody. But Landa is charming and polite, and ingratiates himself with everyone. It’s a fascinating portrayal. I also like that La Padite smokes a tiny pipe, and then Landa takes his pipe from his pocket, and it’s massive. It’s almost like a dick measuring competition.
Except for when he brutally strangles Bridget Von Hammersmark, of course. He is in fact very aggressive in every scene he's in if you think about it. He's simply more subtle.
I think that the pipe was to throw us off, let us know he's full of tricks and won't be meeting whatever expectations we had set up. It's a comical, almost farcical pipe. Totally inappropriate for someone of Landas station. And if you're thrown off your footing, you might just stumble...
Landa's calm, ingratingly demeanor places him as the wolf in the fold. It ratchets up both the tension and desire to see just what he's going to do next.
I actually love his linguistic abilities. His French (at least my ear) annunciation sounded like a native. Likewise with his Italian in the theater scene. I learned years after seeing the film that that while he is fluent in English and French along with this native German, he does not speak Italian. He merely learned the lines needed for the film yet spoke them like a native.
The subtle morphing on Landa's face at 21:10 is some of the best acting I've ever seen. At that moment, I was hooked with Waltz' performance. Tarantino knows how to write a captivating yet terrifying villain.
This was the scene where I knew Christoph would be nominated for an Oscar. The close up when he asked lapatite if he was hiding the Dreyfuses. The expression on his face looked like CGI the way Waltz’s expression morphed into cunning evil. He was fantastic in this role and such a great actor. I’ve enjoyed all his roles in every film since.
Yes it was a great move but you know who he is doing? It’s Ralph fiennes from schindlers list. Fiennes did this thing when his face would have an expression. sometimes annoyance. Some times tenderness and then the eyes go dead and then he commits an atrocity. Waltz does the same thing.
This scene is truly a masterpiece. Also the scene when Landa and Shoshanna meet again at the Café. Bone-chillingly perfect evil. And the actors! Admirable!
In another analysis of the scene that was given additional context from interviews with Taratino himself, there is another, greater reason he interfered with her fetching wine to request milk instead and focused on the way he grasped her wrist, and held it for an extended time with his two fingers placed over her pulse point to check if she was calm or not and gauging her level of anxiousness. He does the same with Charlotte when he kisses her hand as he introduced himself to the girls. Another thing that adds to the well crafted anxiousness and tension of the scene is that Christoph Waltz was only allowed to practice his lines only with Tarantino, so the other actors would not know what to expect from him and make their reactions more genuine.
Ordinary cinephiles like me know intuitively this is one of the great opening scenes in movies, based on the dialogue and buildup in dramatic tension. What we don't appreciate (until now, that is), is how the camera work does all the heavy lifting with an easy grace and style. Thank you for explaining both the technique and the rationale behind this process.
Very true! It's an engaging, nerve-wracking, emotional roller coaster of a scene without being overly dramatic (until the end) or obviously tugging at heart strings. Definitely a masterpiece of a scene, I imagine it will be held up as perfect for many decades.
If i had to rank top 3 movie openings of all time.. 1. jaws still terrfies everyone who watches it for the first time 50 years after it came out 2. the dark knight that bank robbery scene with joker at the end taking off the mask... legendary 3. this scene.... perfect and chilling.... waltz earned that oscar right here....
People always praise Christoph Waltz's performance, but not enough people are complimenting how Denis Menochet did as playing the father and helping create this perfect scene
@@d.l.3993 None of my business, I know, but maybe you're capable of learning something. To paraphrase: So it's ok to point out the presumed speck in your brother's eye for which you have no evidence but it's not ok when someone else points out the plank in yours?
I always thought about it as a power move personally, while also being manipulative. Showing that he is in control and that they are in good hands to see if they let their guard down and reveal some important information.
Having watched this movie three times over the years, one of the things that now strikes me from the beginning is just how desperate La Pedite seems from the start. He seems to have a sense of existential dread, knowing that he can only hold out for so long hiding his friends. He knows that he faces an awful choice when the push comes. It's either his family or the family he's hiding - or most likely both will be sacrificed if he's caught. It's horrifying. We can all see ourselves in his position. It's there from the moment he washes himself. Symbolically, it could be seen as an attempt at spiritual cleansing - as if he knows this is the end - but there is no salvation.
He is checking the daughter’s pulses by grabbing their hands. Holy shit. GREAT scene study, I always analyze a Tarantino film more... like I would a Kubrick film, but this made me really think about every scene in this film. Fantastic work, sir!
I don't know if you missed this but Charlotte looks at Landa, the down at the floor, then up at Lapedite. She was communicating where they were hiding and Landa caught it.
and there is so much more. The hand movements, the glances, the wording and not to mention the lighting and music. It is a masterpiece. Absolute fav movie.
QT’s masterpiece. This scene made his talent completely undeniable. The way Waltz escalates tension to breaking point through a seemingly benign visitation is exceptional.
I agree this is a masterful scene that builds greatly with tension, but to go into it thinking that this is in any possible way a "benign visitation" just seems bizarre. I suppose if you went to see it without ever seeing a trailer, movie poster, or ever hearing anything about it, including who directed it, sure. And I'd be almost jealous if that was the case. I like to know minimal things about a movie I'm gonna watch, but it's nearly impossible to crawl out from under a rock for a Tarantino movie. Let alone recognizing immediately that these are Nazis...
Make more of these. You've said they take a lot of time and you have other projects, but seriously, there is nothing else like this I've found and I've watched it multiple times and have shared it with friends. If you make more I bet you can monetize big time and grow your channel substantially.
thanks I'll try. I have a few in various stages of completion. They just take up a lot of time and I am directing a lot of other projects simultaneously. This one is on scene study and theres one on story structure but its just such a big topic its not easy to explain clearly. Or i just need to do simpler easier ones that dont take that much time to make. I'll work on it though. Thanks for the encouragement.
@@emotiondesigner I agree that your breakdown is great. I used this for a shot/reverse shot lesson. The comments on the film/characters are understandable, but what I love about your video is the analysis of the technique. I would love to see more, possibly with a focus on other techniques.
new one is up and live as of yesterday. Its on The Editing of Whiplash specifically. each video will be on a different thing so I can cover more of filmmaking. You'll see.
Shot 99 at precisely 21:13 to 21:17 is one of the greatest transformations without the use of CG/camera trickery quite possibly in film history. Hans' face is the defining moment this scene changes. Even Hans', "And assured there will be" line was not nearly as intimidating, or scene-changing as the ever so slight and subtle, nearly unnoticeable-until-he-speaks face transformation. Brilliant acting and directing.
I couldn't agree more. Of this entire movie, this exact few seconds is the most amazing. "You are sheltering enemies of the state..." literally turns from debonair, polite but inimical interaction into straight faced SS killer
I'd say the transformative feeling starts at shot 97. I mean, it's a solid 15 minutes spent in a two hander, so when the close ups are all of a sudden introduced, the effect is jarring. The "and rest assured there will be" line doesn't even have time to register given how cordial the last 15 minutes were, and the line only starts to sink in once the shots change to reflect the tone. But I do agree, if you get sucked into this entire sequence, especially on first viewing, his face in shot 99 has an uncanny morphing effect as the weight of the situation hits you.
Since this movie came out, I have always considered this to be the most chilling verbal interaction between two characters. I am a professional interviewer in my career, and was at the edge of my seat watching how Landa put on his fake friendliness show and over the top small talk. You could see the ease in which he performed, also suggesting that he had done this situation many times before. So he softens the mood briefly before he exerts his power with questions, and seems to really enjoy his job.
Psychopaths mirror 'normal' behaviour. It doesn't come natural to them but they observe other people and become great actors. Waltz was acting over his character. He was acting acting.
I’m 30 years old but the best way I can describe Christoph Waltz’s performance is “ate it up and left no crumbs”. The man gives me chills in this movie.
Ive already watched this masterpiece of a movie twice, but even watching a video explaining the scenes is still giving me some anxiety. Christoph's Hans Landa is truly terrifying.
Those are rookie numbers. Watched it twenty three times till date. Still get goosebumps every single time. ‘It’s been a pleasure chatting with a fellow cinema lover.’
Well, the comment section really is complete - and your comment here, Daniel, is pretty much in the direction of what I was thinking. I went to the comments 30 seconds in, the scene makes me actually angry, it's so good (good acting, directing, camera, good TH-cam video & comments (i guess) and on top of all regretfully realistic). And even the replies here are fair, except maybe the provocative one.
Christophe Waltz's character Hans Landa was the best performance I've ever seen in film. Being "fluent" in 3 languages made him seem intelligent and also being a murderous madman made his character so interesting. Waltz is a genius actor. Your breakdown of this scene was as captivating as the scene itself, incredible job emotiondesigner!
Landa is not just SS...he's a member of the SD (closely linked to the Gestapo), as shown by the patch on his left arm (near the elbow) in a later scene. The SD were particularly skilled at investigative work and locating enemies of the Nazi regime.
@Schlomo Baconberg The SD did use white branch color on their caps, but green on their shoulder boards. They were part of the Allgemeine-SS. Although it is true that the crusher style cap was more used by the armed wing of the SS in the battle field.
@JimProctor: Enemies of the Nazi regime? He (and his kind) hunted innocent Jews. Hardly enemies of ANY regime. And I'll never believe the whole of Germany didn't know about it and fully cooperate with the "final solution"!
*The lighting is underrated.* 🔅 Anyone who has ever been on a set knows how long the days are and the takes go 🔅 Even in a studio on a set you have a variety of factors like props casting shadows and factoring in the blocking of the actors 🔅 Even white balancing and color correcting take dozens if not hundreds of hours per film project I’m always amazed at the level of suspension of disbelief required for people who understand how painstaking it is to create a film *to enjoy a film* without being preoccupied *by thinking about the difficulty or skill level it must’ve taken to get EVEN THEM to enjoy the film.* Film is like sleep. Some are able shut out everything and enjoy. Others can’t enjoy shutting down because they’re consumed with processing everything else going on instead of enjoying what’s in front of them. 🛌 🎥🍿
@@jamesondenhartog8109 yeah was about to say that I don’t think he is underrated everyone who knows him and understands the slightest bit of acting also knows he’s a brilliant actor
A list of all subtle parts easily missed: 1: Landa has his men wait outside so its easier for him to have LA Padites daughters excused. The daughters may have prevented La Padite from revealing the hidden jews in the end. 2: The milk is instead of wine which was often poisoned before Nazi arrival and looting. And perhaps to check the pulse of the daughter. 3: His staring could be seen as a creepy sexual habit, but he is a "hawk" watching their every emotion and move especially the daughter who was most nervous. 4: Landa uses a complex sentence in French that is almost at an expert level of grammar to say that he is unable to speak it, this shows that he may know more than it seems and tricks will not slide under his nose. 5: Landa calls the soldiers "ladies" in French to give the hidden jews less time to crawl out, because they'd assume he's calling the daughters back into the house. Landa perhaps discussed this with the soldiers ahead of time. 6: Landa perhaps let's Shoshanna escape by not hustling over to the doorway or hastily taking a shot because he's confident in his abilities to find her again (this point is reinforced later in the film) 7: Landa wanted to be inside for the conversation to listen as a "hawk" would for noises behind walls, under floors, behinds doors, etc.
I always felt like it was because he felt like doing the killing was beneath him. His job was to find the jews, not kill them. That was the soldiers under him's responsibility.
At 22:15 he tells Lapadite to follow him back to French but he uses the word masqerade. Isn't that word almost exactly the same in English and French? Wouldn't the family have understood that something was wrong? I love the acting and the scene in general it just always bugged me that he would use a word that they could most likely understand below after being so elaborate.
Thanks for saying that. Some people come on here and just tell me I'm captain obvious or they correcxt the one word I mispronounced, so its great to hear people appreciate the work I put in.
Surprised you didn't mention Landa's pipe. Its size and grandeur as compared to the tiny simple corn cob pipe says so much, how the Germans think highly of themselves his pipe is superior in every way and so large as to almost be obscene. Its a very phallic symbol like its clear whose is the biggest in the house and who is really in control. Just that giant pipe itself says so much. Really surprised you didn't mention it, because its one thing that really stood out to me. One of the best openings of a movie ever, truly. The tension built and the change in Landa's demeanor are very heavy as he finally drops the pretense and says "You are hiding enemies of the State are you not?." Just Great. I could have watched a whole film of just that scene.
Landa as a character is just genius .. his presence is tremendously intimidating and his manipulation and understanding of his surroundings is honestly perfect for portraying a hunter on his toes .
I think an other reason, why Landa asks for milk, is that Friedrich Nietzsche writes in his description of übermensch, that the übermensch does not drink alcohol, he drinks milk.
As German I can confirm you it is more a reason because the French had Wine with poison because Germans plundered everything, specially the Wine. Milk was generally "good" in Germany for Bones etc. (which is totally the opposite) Drink your Milk & become strong. Not a Übermensch thing. Nazis just used everything for Propaganda what would help them etc.
I also think the fact that he congratulated them on the milk is a reminder that he is the judge, he decides and he is in control. He could have just remained silent after drinking the milk, asking for another one, just saying thank you, yet he rates it, they are there to serve them and he decides what happens.
I just stumbled upon this, and I'm not really into film analysis; but what an incredible dissection of a scene. Makes me appreciate what distinguishes a director from a great director. Bravo!
Every move Landa makes and every line he utters is full of purpose. The way he deploys his huge book, like hes heavily rescourced with information, but then seems to recall most details from memory. Then to jot down very little, this only shows that he didnt need the book for recollection or for documentation when he could have just memorised the answer as he memorised everything else. This is all so threatening whilst he's speaking so cheerfully. It's so calculated whilst he speaks as if he's attempting to come across as friendly and informal
just the sceme with 9 tiles is done to the frame plus the borders in this one. But the borders only appear to those who don't watch at the intended ratio of the screen (21). So tiles are not correct. Still reminds me of people learning a language with a set of logic tools instead of a feeling. Also as like the best sitting position is the "next one" it is here the same with the (calm) movement of the cameras, which in play with the hight difference plays the main role in creating a movement before the horns drop in, which is i believe the main secret to building a tense scene across this dialogue. And not the science formula about positioning objects in frame. Still in this scene there is nothing to do better except maybe use a real tape with grain like nolan does, so it would look less "nowadays". But Tarantino probably believes that he doesn't need any hooks to the past to be good enough
Amazing breakdown loved every second of it. Christopher Walt’s played literally THEE perfect role. The very moment his faces switches from almost playing around to completely serious and ask is him “You’re sheltering enemies of the state are you not?” Unreal acting. And the father whoever that actor is played his role almost perfect
I’ve watched this film so many times and I’ve only just now noticed the sheer panic that moves across the daughters face when Landa mentions all the rumours being true, then plays it off with a passing comment about them being lovely. God damn that’s real stuff
And those Westerns were in turn often re-makes/homages of Japanese films, which were in turn inspired by Film Noir films. We stand on the shoulders of giants.
Prior to you breakdown, I just knew that this scene, as well as the rest of the movie, was entertaining and evocative. Now, I know all the effort it took to have me so engaged. Thanks for your great work.
This has always been the best scene I've ever witnessed. I have worked in Law Enforcement for 27 years and spent much of that time in Investigations. Landa's interview is an absolute perfection of writing and delivery. There are several instances of the "Reid Technique" being employed by Landa which makes this, the most realistic fictional interview/interrogation I have ever seen. Brilliant!
Thank you for this. Gives me a richer understanding of the devices of filmmaking. In addition to the framing, also thought the lighting of these scenes was so contributory and superb. Tarantino is a master.
Excellent analysis i definitely learned a lot, two things that stood out to me was during the first milk scene Landa is watching the daughters in particular the youngest. At 5:50 you can see the youngest daughter look at the ground while Landa is looking at her, this is probably the moment when he was able to determine their location. We can see again at 6:10 where the daughter makes a quick glance at the floor and then to the father. The second thing was that this is a small farm and communites tend to be pretty close-knit so its very likely all the locals are very familiar with each other and would know the children's approximate ages.
probably my favourite movie of all time, nice to see someone put so much effort in to letting me understand why i appreciate it so much. Thanks for the great insight & analysis.
This scene has since I first saw it been my favorite scene in any movie I've seen. I don't know exactly how long it is in its entirety, maybe 15 minutes? And it consists basically of only 2 people, in one room, face to face talking, but the tension building during the entire time sends chills down your spine. Both actors give an incredible performance. It was great seeing this breakdown of the scene.
@@igadiz trying to use it as an example to demonstrate how directing actually works. People think its telling actors what to do, but this is a prime example of an advanced filmmaker making a lot of choices and how they affect the story telling.
thank you! I'm working on more of them. I have different ones at different stages of completion. I work a lot on multiple projects so I complete these as my schedule affords me time.
new one is up and live as of yesterday. It's on the editing of Whiplash specifically. Because each one of these is going to be on a different aspect of filmmaking.
Hi mate, I have seen various breakdowns of films, scenes, camera/cinematography and lighting including this movie and this EPIC opening scene. I am a film-maker myself. This is hands down a learning experience for me which is amazing! Thank you so much for the breakdown. You got every beat, every camera movement and eery directorial framing choice spot on. QT is a genius but your analysis helps us all understand the language of cinema so much better. Thanks so much
You did a good job on this video. This opening scene if my favorite scene in a movie. I have always though of this scene in the way that you have described. I love the way it is shot the dialogue between the the actors in different language that seems well spoken. A few things I would add that you might of touched on or didn't. There is no mother showing that he is the one to look over the family, the protector, just his daughters and his home. Hans, the bad guy, enters the scene from the left which is the side evil goes to/from. I felt Hans being in the house was showing intrusions of the safe place the father was the protector of. At the end the camera moving in the air over the rafters was showing the hawk flying over the rat. Hans exiting the door, dark in the house, Death of her family out side bright vibrant showing hope. There is a few more but a well shot scene.
The hawk-eye-view is a great point. Also the moving Right to Left. I'm aware of it because of graphic design and star wars, but I always wonder if other people apply it and if it is intentional when I see it. But if it was intentional, flipping to the OS from the daughters perspective was a clever way to facilitate that choice. great comments!
ok, why i only watch it now? dude i want more on the table. Do not you dare to stop your channel, it has the most amazing scene analysis i ever watched. please do more like this one
Thanks so much! I felt like the world needed one of these so people would appreciate this film and Tarantino's work as a whole a lot more. I'm already working on more videos. They won't all be this detailed because it takes so long to make one of these. But stay tuned. More Content coming.
new one is up and live as of yesterday. It's on the editing of Whiplash specifically. Because each one of these is going to be on a different aspect of filmmaking.
Hans shush in order to hear possible movement after shooting below the floor gave me chills down my spine, imagining being the lone survivor trying to make it out alive, after witnessing your loved ones being almost completely wiped out, right next to you. The extended door shot of Shoshanna running away from what just happened, and Hans slowly approaching the door to watch her escape put a new level of sorrow and fear in my soul. Tarantino got me to think all the terrifying thoughts Shoshanna was likely thinking as she escaped, and the pain she experienced under Nazi occupation. This scene is cold blooded. It’s definitely a masterful way of engaging the audience and setting the scene of what’s to come in the remained of the fantastic movie QT created.
This is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time, and even though I've seen it so many times I'm still getting that sense of dread and fear from the opening scene in this video. Quentin Tarantino is a fucking master, one of the greatest film directors ever.
This amazing scene impressed me immediately. I've always described this as a chess match. Now I could even relate it to a game of pool. What's important is both players go in thinking they're better than the other. With Landa doing just enough keep it going (while seemingly unthreatening) as Pierre increasingly believing he controls the game. Ending with the mild seriousness drawing out Pierres horror and paying off as Landa goes in for the kill, pivoting during "sheltering enemies of the state..." to the crushing blow of knowing where they were at
OMG, so I knew that film-making was an art, and it was pretty technical, but I had no idea how much was involved, and for so many reasons. You have continued to elevate the role of Director in my mind so much higher than I previously regarded them. That was indeed a masterclass and you taught it so well. Hat's off to you for a wonderful job of explaining all that you did. Cheers.
Thanks a lot! That means a lot! Yes directing is a lot more than people think. At least in the right hands. A lot of directors dont get past basic coverage. They just show who is talking. Establishing, single single, etc. Just like a lot of people know how to draw or write. But the good ones are doing much much more as you can see. You should watch my video about cinema language. That is pretty basic but explains one of the most fundamental aspects of cinema. How it is a language.
i was put into a film studies class because my school schedule was messed up, but ive ended up really like learning about filming. We watched this scene in class so I had to watch this. This video is amazing thank you for the great breakdown
I think it’s also worth mentioning that Waltz/Landa’s movements are extremely telling of who is in charge of the situation. Landa’s demeanor is laid back yet precise. One thing that always stands out to me is when he gets out his pen and paperwork. His movements are precise and almost mechanical, they don’t feel human. Even when he throws back the glass of milk he does it swiftly, with essentially one gulp. Nothing that he does really feels human as even his smile and lighting his pipe feel fake.
Dude the way Hans stares at la paditte, shoo! He is such a great actor, Great movie as well, and a great video, very informative and I learned quite a bit 😀
La Pedite also wasn’t chopping wood. He was removing a stump. It’s the equivalent of chopping wood for weeks. The process is to chip it apart until it’s below the level of the grass where it can be covered with dirt and the decomposition process can start. …shows us he’s a long-term worker. Aggressively works towards ends that are extremely distant.
thank you for saying that. A teacher at a film school once told me she played my videos at the start of her class, so I guess it actually is the sort of thing you can learn in film school.
@@emotiondesigner No. It's not just the information presented. It's the way you present it. The way you break down the information and how you explain it. You are a master on this.
@@AlvinFlang69420 Wow thank you! I think the process works like this. I have to do an in-depth analysis. I'm working on Whiplash right now. And basically comparing the scenes shot for shot. and then I have to explain it. But explain it in layman's terms. Something that makes sense to a beginner but is valuable to an expert. and that's probably the hard part. For example I was working on an episode about story structure where I use marriage story to explain how screenplays don't have to follow typical story structure and what's important are the underlying arcs and themes. But when I got to the part about character arcs and explaining things like moral symmetry as a method of argumentation and philosophy, i got stuck. Because while there are plenty of books on character arcs, im sort of taking it a step further. Like how do you condense 600 page books on how to write into a 1min paragraph explanation. How do i choose what is important and connected logically. It would be just as difficult if I was writing a book. Organizing thoughts on a complicated subject is harder than you would think. It's like how do you explain gravity? How do you explain relativity? You sort of have to write a formula or break down the fundamental properties and relationships so that the explanation has value. Anyway, thanks for the kind encouraging words. I promise I will get to finishing more of them.
After watching this beautiful scene coupled with your in-depth breakdown I immediately thought of the 'Like a Virgin' table scene in Reservoir Dogs, because that's another quality and complex work of art scene by QT.
Man, as a guy who really admires Quentin Tarantino a lot, I really am happy that you did this, and at such depth as well. Personally, I do want to be a filmmaker and screenwriter of my own films one day, and this video helped a lot at some parts. I'm glad you acknowledged every single purpose of every single shot, camera movement and even the way the characters are framed. And the little details you have substituted, like Col. Landa knowing Shossana's name. Pretty good stuff. I seen comments from you to other people down here where you'd make another video someday. Dude, it's already been 3 years, and we all only got 2 videos - this one apparently being your last. Man, I really enjoy these videos and I really would be elated if you would do more of these types of videos. Inglourious Basterds isn't the only scene that deserves this kind of passionate analysis. There are many more, as there are many more factors you could focus on as well. Like the dialogue, the way the actors say it, the choice of music, everything else that constitutes a scene like this. There's this other channel about film that I really like, it's called Lessons From The Screenplay, and I really think the quality of your video is really level with the former. Maybe even more at some parts. Keep going, man. There are more directors and more scenes out there that need this level of attention. Kevin Smith, Richard Linklater, Wes Anderson, Woody Allen, John Hughes, freakin' Scorsese. And if you do intend to make another analysis on a Quentin Tarantino film, I'd suggest you do the scene where Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace talk in Jack Rabbit Slim's or maybe that scene where Burch Coolidge enters the apartment to retrieve his golden watch. Just a suggestion from a guy who really likes movies as much as you do. Anyways, I hope you get to see this comment, I just felt really moved by this to write one. It's very rare I write a comment, even longer as this. So yeah, I hope you see this along with so many other comments of encouragement and plesure and that you make more of these kinds of videos. I remember one of you're comments saying it takes a crap lot of work, but if that amount of labor could result in videos like these, maybe it's very worth it after all. Stay safe, take care and have a great day. -Just Another Quentin Tarantino Fan
thank you for the words of encouragement. it does really go a long way. Right after I posted this, 75% of my comments were people telling me how stupid I was or how to pronounce Duplicitous. And this has 1million views. So it was tons of notifications every day of people telling me I don't know what I'm talking about. took a year for the algorithm to start finding film enthusiasts. So thanks. Definitely have more on the way. I have already started and got pretty far on a Marriage story one intended to explain story structure and one on Whiplash intended to explain some aspects of editing. And there's a whole list of ones I want to do. You have to understand I have a 9-5 job at FOX. And then I do freelance work at night. And then I do social content for IG and tiktok. And I have my actual films and Music Videos that I'm directing. It's hard to find time to do these. I'm just trying to use my knowledge of film to contribute to cinema by actually making some films. But don't worry, the next one is coming soon. It's been in the works for a while. I just got pretty busy. But the positive feedback is super encouraging. As for the details of the content. The reason I dont get into the acting or the other details of the scene, is because each of my videos is meant to focus on a specific aspect of filmmaking. When people see them all together it will make a lot more sense. This is more of a director breakdown. Showing how tarantino chose where to place the camera and what to frame. And I picked this scene because it's just bonkers crazy for an opening scene. you can see how many shots there are and how many coverage changes there are. This scene isn't really broken into parts, I just did that so people could understand that tarantino is changing his coverage. Getting into the dialogue or the performance would maybe fit more into "Scene study" or be focused on the writing, depending on what you focused on. There's so much packed in this video it would be hard to do both at the same time. So the other videos probably wont be this because they will be focusing on something different. Like each video will be a scene or group of scenes from a film, but analyze them coming from a different aspect of the film making. And each video will be chosen because that scene or film serves as a great example of that aspect. And then collectively they will teach people all the aspects of film making. Or at least the ones I find the time to talk about. The next one should be coming this month after a music video comes out and some other content. You should follow my instagram to see more of my shorter content which comes out weekly. And I may start releasing more stuff on youtube shorts as well. Glad to share a love of films. Cheers!
new one is up and live as of yesterday. It's on the editing of Whiplash specifically. Because each one of these is going to be on a different aspect of filmmaking.
This is an amazing scene, how someone can pull off being urban and charming and yet at the same time clearly mark themselves as an amoral danger is remarkable.
Tarantino specifically aquired the same pipe used by Sherlock Holmes for Hans Landa to draw that parallel... Also it is quite a welcome discovery to find a youtuber that is actually astute and insightful.
On one hand I congratulate you for knowing yourself so well. One doesn’t want to waste a decade or more of life if going into it you know you don’t have the patience or the type of analytical brain needed for the job. On the other hand, see Harmony Korine. He made several movies that were considered successful but I’m not sure I have ever heard him utter a complete sentence. Good luck!
I didn’t know anything about the complexity of where each cameras focus in filming. I can’t believe you have only about 11,000 subs, the video was put together well and easy to understand, and I would have guessed made by someone with a million or more subscribers. Looking forward to more breakdowns
What an amazing video. I've watched this scene with a pen and notepad a dozen times trying to figure out the mechanics, but every time I literally just end up watching the whole movie. So truly, thank you!
When Landa says “Having never met the Dreyfus family” I think he was speaking of himself. He’s never met them, so he was asking LaPadite to confirm the names and ages of everyone in the household, as just another way of getting him to lower his guard before the sledgehammer reveal that he knows the Dreyfus family is hiding under the floorboards.
People in rural areas and small towns (especially in the time & place of this film) commonly know the business and the gossip of practically everything and everyone around them within a good-sized radius. I think it would have been more suspicious if Lapedite said he did not know anything about the Jewish family.
nice job with this. can't figure out why this came up in recommended videos as it's not really a subject I'm particularly interested in, but this was really quite a fascinating breakdown
I've been searching for a breakdown of this scene for long time, this is a great analysis of one of the greatest opening scenes of ANY MOVIE of ALL TIME
When I first saw the movie my assumption was that Landa was, if not flirting, then at least indicating an attraction to Charlotte with the line “Each of your daughters is more beautiful than the last” (bit of a backhanded compliment to 2 out of the three) as well as keeping his head turned to Charlotte for a prolonged period of time. But your video made me realize how that was just an act so he could study Charlotte’s face especially since the pressure he was putting on her was masked as him being a bit of a polite creep. That actually lines up perfectly with his other interactions with female characters namely Shoshana and Hammersmark. When he speaks to those characters at length he presents a slightly flirtatious persona as an excuse for him to ask probing question and even tells Hammersmack he was “only flirting” right after he exposed her lie. Good video that changed how I see the rest of the movie!
Good observation. I simply thought Landa was 'flirting' with the daughter(s) to demonstrate to LaPadite what was at risk for him if he didn't cooperate. I never thought he was probing the daughters for information, I just thought he leveraged them to get information from their father. I've watched this clip a hundred times, and were I QT for a day, I would have made one very small adjustment: When the girls walked out of the cabin, I would have had the soldiers outside take notice and calmly walk in their direction, seen through the window...then nothing more. I dunno...maybe that's over the top...
Theres's also significance in the clock in shot 73 when the camera moves to the other side of table. It becomes the center of the shot hinting at time is now running out to coincide with Hans upping the pressure. For me the hat is also very important as it is in so many of the shots reminding you that Hans is a colonel in the German army, especially when he is being friendly, almost like a constant threat, even when he is not in shot. Or it could just be a hat on a table!
It was also known that the French would poison select bottles of their wine in anticipation of German looting. (Since wine would surely be taken in the plunder). Landa asking for the milk was unexpected as it’s unlikely to be laced and reveals he’s not falling for any tricks.
never head this observation this is great!!
@@dr.mark.b.hubble to be honest most directors dont do this much. But this is a great scene to demonstrate what directors should be doing and what level of thought should go into the coverage. But once yiu get it you can see which directors are doing it and which ones dont
If Landa were alone, perhaps. But the presence of the submachine gun armed detail stationed outside the farmhouse precludes that.
I think the poison is a great catch, however, in the scene, since we see the soldiers waiting outside, it would have been a suicide assassination before they really understood the threat they faced. Possible, but not probable. Still, the comment makes the chess match more intriguing.
@@TwoFoxGibbon In a fictional movie, it’s all speculation anyways. Maybe he just wanted some fresh milk…lol. Dairy products were a theme throughout the movie, adding an element of suspense to the cat and mouse relationship between Landa and Shoshana. At the dinner, we all wondered if he knew she was Shoshana and was teasing her by ordering milk for her and cream to put on the strudel. :)
Missed one thing. When Landa is complimenting the daughters beauty in saying “The village rumors of your family are true” also has the implication that the village had rumors of the family hiding away Jews. This whole scene is a masterpiece all on to its own.
Also notice how Landa lingers on Charlotte's hand when meeting her and uses his fingers to check her pulse, then does the same to another one of the girls when he asks for milk instead of wine.
even the English switch dialogue(thought was random) has an implication of I know everything about you and your family.
The Frenchman is a phenomenal actor in portraying someone trying to not look guilty when talking to a cop. Which I’ve done many times so it stands out to me
This opening scene to the movie is all about tension and that line did an excellent job of adding to the tension.
@@brandonbuchner1771 It's possible that's what they were going for, however his hand position isn't quite right to get a pulse as his fingers are not on the radial artery. From a story perspective that could be the case, but from a realistic physiological perspective it can't be happening.
People always rave about Waltz's performance, and it is brilliant but Denis Ménochet is every bit as good in this scene. The way he breaks down as Waltz breaks him down is just amazing. A extremely proud and strong man being broken.
Indeed. Landa steals every scene he's in, but all of Tarantino's actors are giving a top-notch performance. In basically every movie of his. LaPadite is no difference, he was impeccable.
Well said...very subtle and beautifully acted
you always need a great response to make an amazing scene...
The sadness in his eyes in the moments before the tear drop falls are so intense. I love every scene in this film.
@@b.p.879 yep. it's amazing acting.
I also like how hanz uses two different versions of good bye, since in french you have “Adieu” which would be used if you didn’t expect to see that person again, which is what hanz used while ordering the execution of the family, and the other version is “au revoir” which can be translated to “we will see each other again” which is what he called out to shoshana
Good observation. I'll see you again Shoshonna! It's chilling.
Something I always loved about the French in this movie, it’s a masterful use of grammar and vocabulary that viewers who don’t speak French wouldn’t get.
That also happens in Django: Dr Schultz also plays with that very same figure with the German option to say goodbye to Calvin Candie.
These comments are just cementing my opinion of Tarantino's genius.
@@MagicManxabperhaps “cementing” Q.T.’s “genuis” is precisely the main objective of said comments!
Having said that, it is a FACT that Tarantino is catagorically, definitively, a genuis!
I love how Christophe Waltz plays Hans Landa. In so many war films, the SS are portrayed as aggressive and shouting at everybody. But Landa is charming and polite, and ingratiates himself with everyone. It’s a fascinating portrayal.
I also like that La Padite smokes a tiny pipe, and then Landa takes his pipe from his pocket, and it’s massive. It’s almost like a dick measuring competition.
Except for when he brutally strangles Bridget Von Hammersmark, of course. He is in fact very aggressive in every scene he's in if you think about it. He's simply more subtle.
I think that the pipe was to throw us off, let us know he's full of tricks and won't be meeting whatever expectations we had set up. It's a comical, almost farcical pipe. Totally inappropriate for someone of Landas station. And if you're thrown off your footing, you might just stumble...
Landa's calm, ingratingly demeanor places him as the wolf in the fold. It ratchets up both the tension and desire to see just what he's going to do next.
everyone laughed at the cinema when this happened back in the day :D amazing detail
I actually love his linguistic abilities. His French (at least my ear) annunciation sounded like a native. Likewise with his Italian in the theater scene. I learned years after seeing the film that that while he is fluent in English and French along with this native German, he does not speak Italian. He merely learned the lines needed for the film yet spoke them like a native.
The subtle morphing on Landa's face at 21:10 is some of the best acting I've ever seen. At that moment, I was hooked with Waltz' performance. Tarantino knows how to write a captivating yet terrifying villain.
Yeah Christoph Waltz is an amazing actor, and this scene (among many in this movie) was just incredible
tarantino even said he would have not shot the movie if he had not met waltz. Same spectecular performance in django
This was the scene where I knew Christoph would be nominated for an Oscar. The close up when he asked lapatite if he was hiding the Dreyfuses. The expression on his face looked like CGI the way Waltz’s expression morphed into cunning evil. He was fantastic in this role and such a great actor. I’ve enjoyed all his roles in every film since.
Yes it was a great move but you know who he is doing? It’s Ralph fiennes from schindlers list. Fiennes did this thing when his face would have an expression. sometimes annoyance. Some times tenderness and then the eyes go dead and then he commits an atrocity. Waltz does the same thing.
@@hanscombe72 All due respect to Fiennes, he's never done this as well as Waltz in this scene. Christophe is the master.
The first time I saw this entire scene I almost crapped myself. One of the most smolderingly tense and frightening bits ever put to film. Brilliant!
This scene is truly a masterpiece. Also the scene when Landa and Shoshanna meet again at the Café. Bone-chillingly perfect evil. And the actors! Admirable!
Landa's "Wait for the cream" line is what that whole branch of the story revolves around for me.
Was just going to bring up that scene. These two + the scene in the underground bar are the three amazing scenes that rocked me.
I agree.
Anyone say anything about the milk, and then wait for it - the cream?
When they meet the 2nd time. Did he know that was her?
In another analysis of the scene that was given additional context from interviews with Taratino himself, there is another, greater reason he interfered with her fetching wine to request milk instead and focused on the way he grasped her wrist, and held it for an extended time with his two fingers placed over her pulse point to check if she was calm or not and gauging her level of anxiousness. He does the same with Charlotte when he kisses her hand as he introduced himself to the girls.
Another thing that adds to the well crafted anxiousness and tension of the scene is that Christoph Waltz was only allowed to practice his lines only with Tarantino, so the other actors would not know what to expect from him and make their reactions more genuine.
Ordinary cinephiles like me know intuitively this is one of the great opening scenes in movies, based on the dialogue and buildup in dramatic tension. What we don't appreciate (until now, that is), is how the camera work does all the heavy lifting with an easy grace and style. Thank you for explaining both the technique and the rationale behind this process.
Well said
Very true! It's an engaging, nerve-wracking, emotional roller coaster of a scene without being overly dramatic (until the end) or obviously tugging at heart strings. Definitely a masterpiece of a scene, I imagine it will be held up as perfect for many decades.
If i had to rank top 3 movie openings of all time.. 1. jaws still terrfies everyone who watches it for the first time 50 years after it came out 2. the dark knight that bank robbery scene with joker at the end taking off the mask... legendary 3. this scene.... perfect and chilling.... waltz earned that oscar right here....
People always praise Christoph Waltz's performance, but not enough people are complimenting how Denis Menochet did as playing the father and helping create this perfect scene
I'm fairly sure when he stops the daughter, he actually is checking her pulse a la Sherlock to see how nervous they are.
@@d.l.3993 Even if he did, it‘s nevertheless an interesting point. No need for a nasty comment like yours
@@d.l.3993 None of my business, I know, but maybe you're capable of learning something. To paraphrase:
So it's ok to point out the presumed speck in your brother's eye for which you have no evidence but it's not ok when someone else points out the plank in yours?
I always thought about it as a power move personally, while also being manipulative. Showing that he is in control and that they are in good hands to see if they let their guard down and reveal some important information.
Bro, why the hell is this thread so upset? People always find something to be upset about, don't they..
Nice observation! I never thought of that!
Having watched this movie three times over the years, one of the things that now strikes me from the beginning is just how desperate La Pedite seems from the start. He seems to have a sense of existential dread, knowing that he can only hold out for so long hiding his friends. He knows that he faces an awful choice when the push comes. It's either his family or the family he's hiding - or most likely both will be sacrificed if he's caught. It's horrifying. We can all see ourselves in his position. It's there from the moment he washes himself. Symbolically, it could be seen as an attempt at spiritual cleansing - as if he knows this is the end - but there is no salvation.
What's horrifying is knowing we'd all do it to save our kids.
Heartbreaking to the core, So easy to imagine oneself as the parent.
Now, this is art. Never thought of film making with such depth with the breakdowns. Thank you, seriously informational.
Thanks!! My goal was to help people understand the craft better so that they can enjoy films more. Definitely validates the effort to here that
@@emotiondesigner I couldn’t agree more! You did an amazing job. Many many thanks 😊
@@lenkajf7816 Thank you. I am working on more. stay tuned
@@emotiondesigner Yes, I subscribed, I can’t wait for more :)
@@emotiondesigner The best breakdown I ever seen.
He is checking the daughter’s pulses by grabbing their hands. Holy shit. GREAT scene study, I always analyze a Tarantino film more... like I would a Kubrick film, but this made me really think about every scene in this film. Fantastic work, sir!
Yep. When he asks for the glass of milk, he literally grabs her wrist, as if to check her pulse.
@@Coconutscott amazing what we fail to notice the first time round, or the first few dozen times around! Nice to meet you, friend!
I don't know if you missed this but Charlotte looks at Landa, the down at the floor, then up at Lapedite. She was communicating where they were hiding and Landa caught it.
This comment makes me wonder if landa showed up at the house knowing full well they were hiding jews, or if he figured it out almost immediately.
Damn your keen of observation is as sharp as Landa..
5:29
Future Bond girl
@@redhotchilipepper432 There is no doubt he already knew they were there. Someone snitched. Probably one of the daughters.
and there is so much more. The hand movements, the glances, the wording and not to mention the lighting and music. It is a masterpiece. Absolute fav movie.
This and hateful eight are my two favorite movies. I’ve loved all of the characters and scenes from Tarantino
The change to English was a horrorifying moment for me, so ominus
Great job. Don't apologize for the video being long - the scene deserved it. Well done.
Like the scene that’s being dissected, it’s as long as it needs to be.
QT’s masterpiece. This scene made his talent completely undeniable. The way Waltz escalates tension to breaking point through a seemingly benign visitation is exceptional.
I agree this is a masterful scene that builds greatly with tension, but to go into it thinking that this is in any possible way a "benign visitation" just seems bizarre. I suppose if you went to see it without ever seeing a trailer, movie poster, or ever hearing anything about it, including who directed it, sure. And I'd be almost jealous if that was the case. I like to know minimal things about a movie I'm gonna watch, but it's nearly impossible to crawl out from under a rock for a Tarantino movie. Let alone recognizing immediately that these are Nazis...
Make more of these. You've said they take a lot of time and you have other projects, but seriously, there is nothing else like this I've found and I've watched it multiple times and have shared it with friends. If you make more I bet you can monetize big time and grow your channel substantially.
thanks I'll try. I have a few in various stages of completion. They just take up a lot of time and I am directing a lot of other projects simultaneously. This one is on scene study and theres one on story structure but its just such a big topic its not easy to explain clearly. Or i just need to do simpler easier ones that dont take that much time to make. I'll work on it though. Thanks for the encouragement.
@@emotiondesigner I agree that your breakdown is great. I used this for a shot/reverse shot lesson. The comments on the film/characters are understandable, but what I love about your video is the analysis of the technique. I would love to see more, possibly with a focus on other techniques.
new one is up and live as of yesterday. Its on The Editing of Whiplash specifically. each video will be on a different thing so I can cover more of filmmaking. You'll see.
This is what it looks like when the right director finds the right actors to exchange the right dialogue in the right setting...brilliant!
Shot 99 at precisely 21:13 to 21:17 is one of the greatest transformations without the use of CG/camera trickery quite possibly in film history. Hans' face is the defining moment this scene changes. Even Hans', "And assured there will be" line was not nearly as intimidating, or scene-changing as the ever so slight and subtle, nearly unnoticeable-until-he-speaks face transformation. Brilliant acting and directing.
that's good acting for you
@ozymandias nullifidian You misunderstood the comment. it wasn't a question. It's great acting
I couldn't agree more. Of this entire movie, this exact few seconds is the most amazing. "You are sheltering enemies of the state..." literally turns from debonair, polite but inimical interaction into straight faced SS killer
I've never analysed films to this extent but I would say shot 98 is close to par with 99
I'd say the transformative feeling starts at shot 97. I mean, it's a solid 15 minutes spent in a two hander, so when the close ups are all of a sudden introduced, the effect is jarring. The "and rest assured there will be" line doesn't even have time to register given how cordial the last 15 minutes were, and the line only starts to sink in once the shots change to reflect the tone. But I do agree, if you get sucked into this entire sequence, especially on first viewing, his face in shot 99 has an uncanny morphing effect as the weight of the situation hits you.
Since this movie came out, I have always considered this to be the most chilling verbal interaction between two characters. I am a professional interviewer in my career, and was at the edge of my seat watching how Landa put on his fake friendliness show and over the top small talk. You could see the ease in which he performed, also suggesting that he had done this situation many times before. So he softens the mood briefly before he exerts his power with questions, and seems to really enjoy his job.
Psychopaths mirror 'normal' behaviour. It doesn't come natural to them but they observe other people and become great actors. Waltz was acting over his character. He was acting acting.
I’m 30 years old but the best way I can describe Christoph Waltz’s performance is “ate it up and left no crumbs”. The man gives me chills in this movie.
The power play of whose of whose really in charge.
First time I’ve seen a movie breakdown like this. Very technical
Ive already watched this masterpiece of a movie twice, but even watching a video explaining the scenes is still giving me some anxiety. Christoph's Hans Landa is truly terrifying.
Those are rookie numbers. Watched it twenty three times till date. Still get goosebumps every single time.
‘It’s been a pleasure chatting with a fellow cinema lover.’
He’s a boss. Nothing scares Asians more than an intelligent, charismatic and confident white man who doesn’t apologize
those are rookie numbers
Well, the comment section really is complete - and your comment here, Daniel, is pretty much in the direction of what I was thinking. I went to the comments 30 seconds in, the scene makes me actually angry, it's so good (good acting, directing, camera, good TH-cam video & comments (i guess) and on top of all regretfully realistic).
And even the replies here are fair, except maybe the provocative one.
I was about to sleep but now 27 minutes later, I know a lot more about filmmaking. Subbed.
Christophe Waltz's character Hans Landa was the best performance I've ever seen in film. Being "fluent" in 3 languages made him seem intelligent and also being a murderous madman made his character so interesting. Waltz is a genius actor. Your breakdown of this scene was as captivating as the scene itself, incredible job emotiondesigner!
Landa is not just SS...he's a member of the SD (closely linked to the Gestapo), as shown by the patch on his left arm (near the elbow) in a later scene. The SD were particularly skilled at investigative work and locating enemies of the Nazi regime.
Well , I did nazi the connection before!
@Schlomo Baconberg The SD did use white branch color on their caps, but green on their shoulder boards. They were part of the Allgemeine-SS. Although it is true that the crusher style cap was more used by the armed wing of the SS in the battle field.
@JimProctor: Enemies of the Nazi regime? He (and his kind) hunted innocent Jews. Hardly enemies of ANY regime. And I'll never believe the whole of Germany didn't know about it and fully cooperate with the "final solution"!
*The lighting is underrated.*
🔅 Anyone who has ever been on a set knows how long the days are and the takes go
🔅 Even in a studio on a set you have a variety of factors like props casting shadows and factoring in the blocking of the actors
🔅 Even white balancing and color correcting take dozens if not hundreds of hours per film project
I’m always amazed at the level of suspension of disbelief required for people who understand how painstaking it is to create a film *to enjoy a film* without being preoccupied *by thinking about the difficulty or skill level it must’ve taken to get EVEN THEM to enjoy the film.*
Film is like sleep.
Some are able shut out everything and enjoy.
Others can’t enjoy shutting down because they’re consumed with processing everything else going on instead of enjoying what’s in front of them. 🛌 🎥🍿
Christoph Waltz is an underated actor. He is brilliant
Yes, Waltz made that movie a masterpiece.
Gazes, looks, gestures, he is in the role.
He fits the role like a hand in the glove.
he's won two academy awards my dude
@@jamesondenhartog8109 yeah was about to say that
I don’t think he is underrated everyone who knows him and understands the slightest bit of acting also knows he’s a brilliant actor
The *real* underrated actor here is the dairy farmer. He does a great job.
@@heatherperleberg7816 hell yes
A list of all subtle parts easily missed:
1: Landa has his men wait outside so its easier for him to have LA Padites daughters excused. The daughters may have prevented La Padite from revealing the hidden jews in the end.
2: The milk is instead of wine which was often poisoned before Nazi arrival and looting. And perhaps to check the pulse of the daughter.
3: His staring could be seen as a creepy sexual habit, but he is a "hawk" watching their every emotion and move especially the daughter who was most nervous.
4: Landa uses a complex sentence in French that is almost at an expert level of grammar to say that he is unable to speak it, this shows that he may know more than it seems and tricks will not slide under his nose.
5: Landa calls the soldiers "ladies" in French to give the hidden jews less time to crawl out, because they'd assume he's calling the daughters back into the house. Landa perhaps discussed this with the soldiers ahead of time.
6: Landa perhaps let's Shoshanna escape by not hustling over to the doorway or hastily taking a shot because he's confident in his abilities to find her again (this point is reinforced later in the film)
7: Landa wanted to be inside for the conversation to listen as a "hawk" would for noises behind walls, under floors, behinds doors, etc.
6. His big mistake.
I always felt like it was because he felt like doing the killing was beneath him. His job was to find the jews, not kill them. That was the soldiers under him's responsibility.
Good observations
@@andreww9791 Except for #5. That's not subtle at all, but made extremely obvious to the viewers.
At 22:15 he tells Lapadite to follow him back to French but he uses the word masqerade. Isn't that word almost exactly the same in English and French? Wouldn't the family have understood that something was wrong? I love the acting and the scene in general it just always bugged me that he would use a word that they could most likely understand below after being so elaborate.
Thanks for an incredible breakdown of this scene. Its an entire college course of filming in less than 1/2 hour.
Thanks for saying that. Some people come on here and just tell me I'm captain obvious or they correcxt the one word I mispronounced, so its great to hear people appreciate the work I put in.
Surprised you didn't mention Landa's pipe. Its size and grandeur as compared to the tiny simple corn cob pipe says so much, how the Germans think highly of themselves his pipe is superior in every way and so large as to almost be obscene. Its a very phallic symbol like its clear whose is the biggest in the house and who is really in control. Just that giant pipe itself says so much. Really surprised you didn't mention it, because its one thing that really stood out to me. One of the best openings of a movie ever, truly. The tension built and the change in Landa's demeanor are very heavy as he finally drops the pretense and says "You are hiding enemies of the State are you not?." Just Great. I could have watched a whole film of just that scene.
Landa as a character is just genius .. his presence is tremendously intimidating and his manipulation and understanding of his surroundings is honestly perfect for portraying a hunter on his toes .
Like a smiling shark. Charming and menacing. The intellect is unnerving. Forced into a deadly game of wits.
I think an other reason, why Landa asks for milk, is that Friedrich Nietzsche writes in his description of übermensch, that the übermensch does not drink alcohol, he drinks milk.
I think he is proving to the family that he knows everything about them
When did Nietzsche say that?
As German I can confirm you it is more a reason because the French had Wine with poison because Germans plundered everything, specially the Wine.
Milk was generally "good" in Germany for Bones etc. (which is totally the opposite) Drink your Milk & become strong. Not a Übermensch thing. Nazis just used everything for Propaganda what would help them etc.
An unusual viewpoint. Most people would say that milk is for children.
@@terry9238 Germans have a few other stupid points of view 😅 Still today.
LaPadite says "after you" when inviting him in but Lande actually grabs him and ushers him into his own house letting him know he's in control
I also think the fact that he congratulated them on the milk is a reminder that he is the judge, he decides and he is in control. He could have just remained silent after drinking the milk, asking for another one, just saying thank you, yet he rates it, they are there to serve them and he decides what happens.
I just stumbled upon this, and I'm not really into film analysis; but what an incredible dissection of a scene. Makes me appreciate what distinguishes a director from a great director. Bravo!
Every move Landa makes and every line he utters is full of purpose. The way he deploys his huge book, like hes heavily rescourced with information, but then seems to recall most details from memory. Then to jot down very little, this only shows that he didnt need the book for recollection or for documentation when he could have just memorised the answer as he memorised everything else. This is all so threatening whilst he's speaking so cheerfully. It's so calculated whilst he speaks as if he's attempting to come across as friendly and informal
Great video and analysis of things I never noticed before.
just the sceme with 9 tiles is done to the frame plus the borders in this one. But the borders only appear to those who don't watch at the intended ratio of the screen (21). So tiles are not correct. Still reminds me of people learning a language with a set of logic tools instead of a feeling. Also as like the best sitting position is the "next one" it is here the same with the (calm) movement of the cameras, which in play with the hight difference plays the main role in creating a movement before the horns drop in, which is i believe the main secret to building a tense scene across this dialogue. And not the science formula about positioning objects in frame. Still in this scene there is nothing to do better except maybe use a real tape with grain like nolan does, so it would look less "nowadays". But Tarantino probably believes that he doesn't need any hooks to the past to be good enough
Amazing breakdown loved every second of it. Christopher Walt’s played literally THEE perfect role. The very moment his faces switches from almost playing around to completely serious and ask is him “You’re sheltering enemies of the state are you not?” Unreal acting. And the father whoever that actor is played his role almost perfect
new one is up and live as of yesterday
One of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite movies. I’ve seen many dissections of this but this is hands down the best.
I’ve watched this film so many times and I’ve only just now noticed the sheer panic that moves across the daughters face when Landa mentions all the rumours being true, then plays it off with a passing comment about them being lovely. God damn that’s real stuff
He basically remakes westerns in a non western setting. It's a strange type of genius
And those Westerns were in turn often re-makes/homages of Japanese films, which were in turn inspired by Film Noir films. We stand on the shoulders of giants.
That's what hit me! I have this video recorded. The music in this movie gave me that feeling.
@@glenkeating7333 yeah, swap landas car and uniform for a horse and Stetson at the beginning and all we need is Lee Van cleef chopping the wood
Rob Dean. Just like writing the song Eleanor Rigby. It’s genius is in its’s simplicity.......Film noir
it is modern Western (kind of). Tarantino was inspired by westerns and Japanese martial action films, its kind of mix of boths
Prior to you breakdown, I just knew that this scene, as well as the rest of the movie, was entertaining and evocative. Now, I know all the effort it took to have me so engaged. Thanks for your great work.
Landa controls every scene he is in until Hermann is shot right at the end. This is possibly the best movie Tarantino has ever made....very underrated
Agreed
NOT UNDERRATED as anyone who has seen this film is agreed.
Why in t.f. does everyone keep using that "underrated" bullsht?
Inglorious Basterds is "underrated" now? This is one of Tarantino's highest rated movies...
No doubt this is the best Tarantino movie
This has always been the best scene I've ever witnessed. I have worked in Law Enforcement for 27 years and spent much of that time in Investigations. Landa's interview is an absolute perfection of writing and delivery. There are several instances of the "Reid Technique" being employed by Landa which makes this, the most realistic fictional interview/interrogation I have ever seen. Brilliant!
Thank you for this. Gives me a richer understanding of the devices of filmmaking. In addition to the framing, also thought the lighting of these scenes was so contributory and superb. Tarantino is a master.
Glad i could help with anyones appreciation for films
I'll never forget this scene. Every time I watch this one my heart pounds in agony and feel the stress to my bones.
Excellent analysis i definitely learned a lot, two things that stood out to me was during the first milk scene Landa is watching the daughters in particular the youngest. At 5:50 you can see the youngest daughter look at the ground while Landa is looking at her, this is probably the moment when he was able to determine their location. We can see again at 6:10 where the daughter makes a quick glance at the floor and then to the father.
The second thing was that this is a small farm and communites tend to be pretty close-knit so its very likely all the locals are very familiar with each other and would know the children's approximate ages.
probably my favourite movie of all time, nice to see someone put so much effort in to letting me understand why i appreciate it so much. Thanks for the great insight & analysis.
This is one of my all time favorite movie scenes - now I understand why.
Wonderful analysis. This opening is a masterpiece. I get chills every time I watch it!
This scene has since I first saw it been my favorite scene in any movie I've seen. I don't know exactly how long it is in its entirety, maybe 15 minutes? And it consists basically of only 2 people, in one room, face to face talking, but the tension building during the entire time sends chills down your spine. Both actors give an incredible performance. It was great seeing this breakdown of the scene.
Your dissection of this scene makes made me appreciate how much thought and hard work goes into making a film. Thank you!
@@igadiz trying to use it as an example to demonstrate how directing actually works. People think its telling actors what to do, but this is a prime example of an advanced filmmaker making a lot of choices and how they affect the story telling.
Can you do more of these? This was incredibly informative and pleasant to watch. Thank you for this!
thank you! I'm working on more of them. I have different ones at different stages of completion. I work a lot on multiple projects so I complete these as my schedule affords me time.
new one is up and live as of yesterday. It's on the editing of Whiplash specifically. Because each one of these is going to be on a different aspect of filmmaking.
Hi mate, I have seen various breakdowns of films, scenes, camera/cinematography and lighting including this movie and this EPIC opening scene. I am a film-maker myself. This is hands down a learning experience for me which is amazing! Thank you so much for the breakdown. You got every beat, every camera movement and eery directorial framing choice spot on. QT is a genius but your analysis helps us all understand the language of cinema so much better. Thanks so much
You did a good job on this video. This opening scene if my favorite scene in a movie. I have always though of this scene in the way that you have described. I love the way it is shot the dialogue between the the actors in different language that seems well spoken. A few things I would add that you might of touched on or didn't. There is no mother showing that he is the one to look over the family, the protector, just his daughters and his home. Hans, the bad guy, enters the scene from the left which is the side evil goes to/from. I felt Hans being in the house was showing intrusions of the safe place the father was the protector of. At the end the camera moving in the air over the rafters was showing the hawk flying over the rat. Hans exiting the door, dark in the house, Death of her family out side bright vibrant showing hope. There is a few more but a well shot scene.
The hawk-eye-view is a great point. Also the moving Right to Left. I'm aware of it because of graphic design and star wars, but I always wonder if other people apply it and if it is intentional when I see it. But if it was intentional, flipping to the OS from the daughters perspective was a clever way to facilitate that choice. great comments!
If the director put this much work into every shot no movies wud ever get finished
@@007nadineL Sort of makes you wonder what the heck is going on with Avatar 2 through whatever.
@@007nadineL Ever hear of a guy named Stanley Kubrick?
@@007nadineL It's not just the director...
This is one of the best breakdowns of a scene I've ever scene. Bravo, wish you had more videos.
Wow. I know nothing about film making, and your analysis brought so many things I never noticed to my attention. Really well done.
ok, why i only watch it now? dude i want more on the table. Do not you dare to stop your channel, it has the most amazing scene analysis i ever watched. please do more like this one
Tremendous job, my friend. This is a beautiful and well-made video. Thank you for taking the time to create this!
Look forward to the next one
Thanks so much! I felt like the world needed one of these so people would appreciate this film and Tarantino's work as a whole a lot more. I'm already working on more videos. They won't all be this detailed because it takes so long to make one of these. But stay tuned. More Content coming.
new one is up and live as of yesterday. It's on the editing of Whiplash specifically. Because each one of these is going to be on a different aspect of filmmaking.
Hans shush in order to hear possible movement after shooting below the floor gave me chills down my spine, imagining being the lone survivor trying to make it out alive, after witnessing your loved ones being almost completely wiped out, right next to you. The extended door shot of Shoshanna running away from what just happened, and Hans slowly approaching the door to watch her escape put a new level of sorrow and fear in my soul. Tarantino got me to think all the terrifying thoughts Shoshanna was likely thinking as she escaped, and the pain she experienced under Nazi occupation. This scene is cold blooded. It’s definitely a masterful way of engaging the audience and setting the scene of what’s to come in the remained of the fantastic movie QT created.
You should do the dinner table scene in Django!
YES
Good call, epic 🙌
This is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time, and even though I've seen it so many times I'm still getting that sense of dread and fear from the opening scene in this video. Quentin Tarantino is a fucking master, one of the greatest film directors ever.
For sure. Londa is absolutely terrifying, and makes me nervous/anxious when he enters a scene.
Same! This is my most favourite movie.. been a fan of QT ever since.
This amazing scene impressed me immediately. I've always described this as a chess match. Now I could even relate it to a game of pool. What's important is both players go in thinking they're better than the other. With Landa doing just enough keep it going (while seemingly unthreatening) as Pierre increasingly believing he controls the game. Ending with the mild seriousness drawing out Pierres horror and paying off as Landa goes in for the kill, pivoting during "sheltering enemies of the state..." to the crushing blow of knowing where they were at
When I watched this scene for the first time in theatres, the whole time it gave me heart palpitations.
Friggin masterful
OMG, so I knew that film-making was an art, and it was pretty technical, but I had no idea how much was involved, and for so many reasons. You have continued to elevate the role of Director in my mind so much higher than I previously regarded them. That was indeed a masterclass and you taught it so well. Hat's off to you for a wonderful job of explaining all that you did. Cheers.
Thanks a lot! That means a lot! Yes directing is a lot more than people think. At least in the right hands. A lot of directors dont get past basic coverage. They just show who is talking. Establishing, single single, etc. Just like a lot of people know how to draw or write. But the good ones are doing much much more as you can see. You should watch my video about cinema language. That is pretty basic but explains one of the most fundamental aspects of cinema. How it is a language.
th-cam.com/video/1-6-8HN5yv8/w-d-xo.html
i was put into a film studies class because my school schedule was messed up, but ive ended up really like learning about filming. We watched this scene in class so I had to watch this. This video is amazing thank you for the great breakdown
Christoph Waltz is one of my favorite actors, he is so convincing every time. He can transform from a nice guy to a monster in a blink of an eye.
The best most memorable actors are known for portraying evil.
this is one of my most favourite scenes ever. there’s so much more involved the the art than i had ever known! great video thanks
I think it’s also worth mentioning that Waltz/Landa’s movements are extremely telling of who is in charge of the situation. Landa’s demeanor is laid back yet precise. One thing that always stands out to me is when he gets out his pen and paperwork. His movements are precise and almost mechanical, they don’t feel human. Even when he throws back the glass of milk he does it swiftly, with essentially one gulp. Nothing that he does really feels human as even his smile and lighting his pipe feel fake.
Welcome to psychopathy
I love someone that finally talks about camera works
Dude the way Hans stares at la paditte, shoo! He is such a great actor, Great movie as well, and a great video, very informative and I learned quite a bit 😀
La Pedite also wasn’t chopping wood. He was removing a stump. It’s the equivalent of chopping wood for weeks. The process is to chip it apart until it’s below the level of the grass where it can be covered with dirt and the decomposition process can start. …shows us he’s a long-term worker. Aggressively works towards ends that are extremely distant.
Amazing scene, exceptionally establishing and memorable. Thank you for your in depth analysis, a delightful informative pleasure.
dude, thanks so much for that
I must say that this analysis and breakdown is on par with what you can learn in film schools when it comes to shot composition
Bravo, monsieur
thank you for saying that. A teacher at a film school once told me she played my videos at the start of her class, so I guess it actually is the sort of thing you can learn in film school.
@@emotiondesigner No. It's not just the information presented. It's the way you present it. The way you break down the information and how you explain it.
You are a master on this.
@@AlvinFlang69420 Wow thank you! I think the process works like this. I have to do an in-depth analysis. I'm working on Whiplash right now. And basically comparing the scenes shot for shot. and then I have to explain it. But explain it in layman's terms. Something that makes sense to a beginner but is valuable to an expert. and that's probably the hard part. For example I was working on an episode about story structure where I use marriage story to explain how screenplays don't have to follow typical story structure and what's important are the underlying arcs and themes. But when I got to the part about character arcs and explaining things like moral symmetry as a method of argumentation and philosophy, i got stuck. Because while there are plenty of books on character arcs, im sort of taking it a step further. Like how do you condense 600 page books on how to write into a 1min paragraph explanation. How do i choose what is important and connected logically. It would be just as difficult if I was writing a book. Organizing thoughts on a complicated subject is harder than you would think. It's like how do you explain gravity? How do you explain relativity? You sort of have to write a formula or break down the fundamental properties and relationships so that the explanation has value. Anyway, thanks for the kind encouraging words. I promise I will get to finishing more of them.
After watching this beautiful scene coupled with your in-depth breakdown I immediately thought of the 'Like a Virgin' table scene in Reservoir Dogs, because that's another quality and complex work of art scene by QT.
Man, as a guy who really admires Quentin Tarantino a lot, I really am happy that you did this, and at such depth as well. Personally, I do want to be a filmmaker and screenwriter of my own films one day, and this video helped a lot at some parts. I'm glad you acknowledged every single purpose of every single shot, camera movement and even the way the characters are framed. And the little details you have substituted, like Col. Landa knowing Shossana's name. Pretty good stuff. I seen comments from you to other people down here where you'd make another video someday. Dude, it's already been 3 years, and we all only got 2 videos - this one apparently being your last. Man, I really enjoy these videos and I really would be elated if you would do more of these types of videos. Inglourious Basterds isn't the only scene that deserves this kind of passionate analysis. There are many more, as there are many more factors you could focus on as well. Like the dialogue, the way the actors say it, the choice of music, everything else that constitutes a scene like this. There's this other channel about film that I really like, it's called Lessons From The Screenplay, and I really think the quality of your video is really level with the former. Maybe even more at some parts. Keep going, man. There are more directors and more scenes out there that need this level of attention. Kevin Smith, Richard Linklater, Wes Anderson, Woody Allen, John Hughes, freakin' Scorsese. And if you do intend to make another analysis on a Quentin Tarantino film, I'd suggest you do the scene where Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace talk in Jack Rabbit Slim's or maybe that scene where Burch Coolidge enters the apartment to retrieve his golden watch. Just a suggestion from a guy who really likes movies as much as you do. Anyways, I hope you get to see this comment, I just felt really moved by this to write one. It's very rare I write a comment, even longer as this. So yeah, I hope you see this along with so many other comments of encouragement and plesure and that you make more of these kinds of videos. I remember one of you're comments saying it takes a crap lot of work, but if that amount of labor could result in videos like these, maybe it's very worth it after all. Stay safe, take care and have a great day. -Just Another Quentin Tarantino Fan
thank you for the words of encouragement. it does really go a long way. Right after I posted this, 75% of my comments were people telling me how stupid I was or how to pronounce Duplicitous. And this has 1million views. So it was tons of notifications every day of people telling me I don't know what I'm talking about. took a year for the algorithm to start finding film enthusiasts. So thanks. Definitely have more on the way. I have already started and got pretty far on a Marriage story one intended to explain story structure and one on Whiplash intended to explain some aspects of editing. And there's a whole list of ones I want to do. You have to understand I have a 9-5 job at FOX. And then I do freelance work at night. And then I do social content for IG and tiktok. And I have my actual films and Music Videos that I'm directing. It's hard to find time to do these. I'm just trying to use my knowledge of film to contribute to cinema by actually making some films. But don't worry, the next one is coming soon. It's been in the works for a while. I just got pretty busy. But the positive feedback is super encouraging. As for the details of the content. The reason I dont get into the acting or the other details of the scene, is because each of my videos is meant to focus on a specific aspect of filmmaking. When people see them all together it will make a lot more sense. This is more of a director breakdown. Showing how tarantino chose where to place the camera and what to frame. And I picked this scene because it's just bonkers crazy for an opening scene. you can see how many shots there are and how many coverage changes there are. This scene isn't really broken into parts, I just did that so people could understand that tarantino is changing his coverage. Getting into the dialogue or the performance would maybe fit more into "Scene study" or be focused on the writing, depending on what you focused on. There's so much packed in this video it would be hard to do both at the same time. So the other videos probably wont be this because they will be focusing on something different. Like each video will be a scene or group of scenes from a film, but analyze them coming from a different aspect of the film making. And each video will be chosen because that scene or film serves as a great example of that aspect. And then collectively they will teach people all the aspects of film making. Or at least the ones I find the time to talk about. The next one should be coming this month after a music video comes out and some other content. You should follow my instagram to see more of my shorter content which comes out weekly. And I may start releasing more stuff on youtube shorts as well. Glad to share a love of films. Cheers!
Aye man why don’t u post anymore? I would love more vids like these
new one is up and live as of yesterday. It's on the editing of Whiplash specifically. Because each one of these is going to be on a different aspect of filmmaking.
This was such a cool breakdown and such an amazing scene to do it with. You rock.
This is an amazing scene, how someone can pull off being urban and charming and yet at the same time clearly mark themselves as an amoral danger is remarkable.
Tarantino specifically aquired the same pipe used by Sherlock Holmes for Hans Landa to draw that parallel... Also it is quite a welcome discovery to find a youtuber that is actually astute and insightful.
I've always wanted to be a filmmaker, but watching stuff like this makes me think I just don't have what it takes.
Just try it, you will regret it if you never tried :)
It comes with practice! Just think about ideas whenever you have time. And this kind of sense will gradually ripen with time.!
If Tommy wiseau can make a film any one can. Don't give up. It's better to try and fail and learn from failure than to never try.
Don't give up just remember this was years of practice before he made this movie..
On one hand I congratulate you for knowing yourself so well. One doesn’t want to waste a decade or more of life if going into it you know you don’t have the patience or the type of analytical brain needed for the job. On the other hand, see Harmony Korine. He made several movies that were considered successful but I’m not sure I have ever heard him utter a complete sentence. Good luck!
I didn’t know anything about the complexity of where each cameras focus in filming.
I can’t believe you have only about 11,000 subs, the video was put together well and easy to understand, and I would have guessed made by someone with a million or more subscribers.
Looking forward to more breakdowns
Waltz SUPREME and the way he changes face expression with the slightest movement is incredible, but al so the actor playin Lapaditte is huge
What an amazing video. I've watched this scene with a pen and notepad a dozen times trying to figure out the mechanics, but every time I literally just end up watching the whole movie. So truly, thank you!
I'll never know how people reach the level of genius that directors like Tarantino, Fincher, Nolan, etc have achieved.
The actor that plays Mr. La petite is phenomenal! His closeup, when he knows the game is up, is my absolute favorite shot of this scene.
Brilliant. Both the analysis and Tarantino’s directing.
I think this is my favorite opening scene from any movie i've ever watched. It's just a masterpiece on so many different levels.
"I have never met the family"
"I know their names and ages and where they supposedly went"
yeah exactly! great point! this is the best summary of how landa caught him.
When Landa says “Having never met the Dreyfus family” I think he was speaking of himself.
He’s never met them, so he was asking LaPadite to confirm the names and ages of everyone in the household, as just another way of getting him to lower his guard before the sledgehammer reveal that he knows the Dreyfus family is hiding under the floorboards.
People in rural areas and small towns (especially in the time & place of this film) commonly know the business and the gossip of practically everything and everyone around them within a good-sized radius. I think it would have been more suspicious if Lapedite said he did not know anything about the Jewish family.
My favorite part of this video is how the narrator doesn't interrupt the squirrel/rat dialogue. That incredible part to me is just so indescribable
nice job with this. can't figure out why this came up in recommended videos as it's not really a subject I'm particularly interested in, but this was really quite a fascinating breakdown
film students will study this 19 minutes of film forever.
Thank you very much. Your video made me enjoy this scene even more.
Awesome, glad I could share my appreciation for this scene!
I've been searching for a breakdown of this scene for long time, this is a great analysis of one of the greatest opening scenes of ANY MOVIE of ALL TIME
When I first saw the movie my assumption was that Landa was, if not flirting, then at least indicating an attraction to Charlotte with the line “Each of your daughters is more beautiful than the last” (bit of a backhanded compliment to 2 out of the three) as well as keeping his head turned to Charlotte for a prolonged period of time. But your video made me realize how that was just an act so he could study Charlotte’s face especially since the pressure he was putting on her was masked as him being a bit of a polite creep.
That actually lines up perfectly with his other interactions with female characters namely Shoshana and Hammersmark. When he speaks to those characters at length he presents a slightly flirtatious persona as an excuse for him to ask probing question and even tells Hammersmack he was “only flirting” right after he exposed her lie. Good video that changed how I see the rest of the movie!
Good observation. I simply thought Landa was 'flirting' with the daughter(s) to demonstrate to LaPadite what was at risk for him if he didn't cooperate. I never thought he was probing the daughters for information, I just thought he leveraged them to get information from their father. I've watched this clip a hundred times, and were I QT for a day, I would have made one very small adjustment: When the girls walked out of the cabin, I would have had the soldiers outside take notice and calmly walk in their direction, seen through the window...then nothing more. I dunno...maybe that's over the top...
Also, she being the youngest is most vulnerable and easy to intimidate.
@@ipsitamazumdar4849 I think this best explains why Landa grabs the wrist of the eldest sister right in front of her. It was too intimidate.
oh my gosh I love this analysis, please do more or someone recommend a youtuber who analyze like you because I love it so much
Theres's also significance in the clock in shot 73 when the camera moves to the other side of table. It becomes the center of the shot hinting at time is now running out to coincide with Hans upping the pressure.
For me the hat is also very important as it is in so many of the shots reminding you that Hans is a colonel in the German army, especially when he is being friendly, almost like a constant threat, even when he is not in shot. Or it could just be a hat on a table!