‘What makes a film good?’

A variety of components are needed to make a film ‘good’ such as costumes, cinematography, themes, sound and so much more but how each component is used can vary depending on the genre, target audience and budget of a film. ‘The Platform’ is a good example of a film that uses all these elements in order to make an enjoyable, successful and overall ‘good’ film.

The costumes are kept quite simple and dull throughout the film – everyone within the establishment wearing a brown prison-like jumpsuit, with the exception of the chefs on level zero who are given white suits. The costume differences show how disconnected  both groups are from each other, the jumpsuits adding to the glum and dismal setting as the people within the established try to survive each month due to the greed of those on the higher levels whilst the white suits represents the obliviousness of the chefs whose focus lies on perfecting their food rather than questioning the system.

Greed is an important theme throughout the film that is often linked to class and capitalism in a metaphor of ‘Heaven vs Hell’ – the amount of power and influence each person has decreases depending on what level they’re on as they’re shunned by those above them. The lighting throughout the film is also used to subtly show this as the higher floors have yellow tones that lighten up the rooms, making them look safer than the lower blue-toned floors that darken the space which exaggerates the uninviting and unfriendliness of the level. All of this combined allows the viewer to immerse themselves within the film and ponder about the system’s flaws and whether they themselves would survive. 

The use of music also helps to immerse the viewer within the film’s universe; the quiet violin that’s heard in the background of most scenes helps to add tension to the dystopian-thriller without overdoing like a horror film would. The film’s main theme is used scarcely throughout the film and is the only piece we hear other than the softer violin. This gives the scenes an ominous feel and exaggerates the actions that are happening on screen especially as the theme itself sounds like a mixture of pots and the ticking of a clock which fits in well with the films plot whilst sounding both sinister and soft.

In conclusion, there are various elements that combine together in order to make a film ‘good’ but it’s how well they combine together that make a film enjoyable and memorable for the viewer. Does the lighting match the mood? Is the music too intense? Of course, no film is the same so the way each element is used can change, especially due to different film styles and genres, but if they don’t work well as one, then the watching the final product won’t be as pleasant.