What is it about a favourite movie or show that makes it a favourite? It could be the story, the music, the cinematography or the actors; maybe the characters they play and their antics.
Behind the scenes of what makes a story come to life, lies a multitude of aspects. There are so many small details that are taken care of and blend in so seamlessly that we as viewers, barely notice it, but if it wasn’t there, there would be something amiss. Lighting, costumes, and maybe most importantly, the physical setting and location of the movie and each of its scenes, which includes the architecture and how the characters interact with it. This can be very mundane, like a room or a house, but it can also be an entire cityscape.
Directors can be very creative in this respect. Since it is a movie and doesn’t have to adhere to the standard rules of reality, the architecture in the movie can reflect their imagination. Buildings can float, they can look like something from the outside but be completely different in terms of space inside, buildings can reflect a particular period in history or can be a futuristic take on architecture.
Some movies are very straightforward about architecture, such as The Brutalist or Fountainhead. But often, architecture in a movie isn’t what the movie is outwardly about. Rather, it adds to the overall mood and setting of the movie. Listed below are a few movies that are very interesting to watch for architects, even if architecture is not at the forefront of the movie.
1. Inception
Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a movie about controlling dreams. One of the characters in the movie is an architecture student named Ariadne, who is tasked with designing the dream landscape. The overall approach of the design process, and the challenges that come with designing something physical in an abstract setting, that is the mind and dreams, make it a compelling watch, especially for those interested in conceptual architecture. It is a perfect amalgamation of architecture and storytelling.
2. The Truman Show
The Truman Show, directed by Peter Weir is a story about Truman Burbank, who is unaware that his entire life is a set, and is being broadcast to people all around the world, watching his every move. His entire city, including houses, shops, schools and all other infrastructure is built under a dome, that is contained from the rest of the world and is being controlled by a main director elsewhere. As an architect, it is very interesting to think about the mechanics of the set and how it might function in a real-world scenario. It also makes one think about the amount of control that architecture can have in a real person’s life.
3. Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is a movie set in Los Angeles in the year 2049, where science has expanded to the point of creation of bioengineered humans. The entire movie has a very cyberpunk theme, with the architecture reflecting the same. The politics and functioning of a dystopian society and its effect on the buildings and construction is what makes this movie a worthwhile watch for architects.
4. Cruella 2021
Moving on to historical contexts, Cruella is a fashion movie set in the 1970s punk rock movement in London. The movie is directed by Craig Gillespie. Being set in London, there are different locations reflecting different aspects based on what is necessary in the movie. From the upper-class aristocratic side with monumental constructions, to the lower-class dilapidated buildings, the directors have, to the fullest extent, made use of locations for shooting. Most of the impactful scenes are shot in a replica of London’s most iconic departmental store – Liberty. In addition, there were 96 sets created for the shooting of the movie and a lot of detail has gone into the making of every one of them. This movie is a must-watch for architects who wish to pursue set design as an alternate career.
5. Gangubai Kathiawadi
Moving on to an Indian context, Gangubai is a movie directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is known for his magnificent movie sets. The movie follows the story of a prostitute, Gangubai, from Mumbai’s red light district in Kathiawad. Though the movie is more about Gangubai and her securing rights for prostitutes, the location and setting of the film is a very interesting study of how context and community relations can shape architecture. Prostitutes, ostracized in India, form a very close and tight-knit group with the architecture of their homes reflecting the same, being very closely spaced to each other and overlooking the streets of their district, thus creating an additional sense of closeness and safety with one another.
6. Padmaavat
Padmaavat is a historical movie based on a poem, again directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, set in 13th-century India in Chittor. The movie follows Padmavati, a Rajput queen, described as the most beautiful woman at the time. Mughal ruler Allaudin Khilji takes an obsession with her and wants her for his own. The movie again has beautiful sets constructed, that depict the Mughal and Rajput architecture of the time, in all its glory and grandeur. For those interested in the historic architecture of India, seeing it brought to life on a screen can make a very enjoyable movie-watching experience.
These are only a few examples of movies with an architectural aspect to them. To tell a good story, one must set its scene in the most accurate way possible, to make the person on the receiving end experience it as much as possible. And a large part of that includes the architecture of the setting. The built environment is not something that can be understated in a movie. It is what adds to the drama, the curiosity and the overall viewing experience.
References:
Sudarshan Uppunda (27th July 2022). 10 Best Movies Every Architect Should Watch [online]. Available at: https://parametric-architecture.com/10-best-movies-every-architect-should-watch/
JioHotstar (2022). The World of Cruella. [Video]. Available at: https://www.hotstar.com/in/clips/the-world-of-cruella/1260067179/watch.
