MovieChat Forums > Stay (2005) Discussion > Yellow + Blue

Yellow + Blue

posted 15 years ago by MaddoxToBase
8 replies | jump to latest

This film is truly one of my favorites. I've seen it so many times and the intense emotional response I have to this film, never seems to diminish. It is a wonderful and beautifully filmed, tragic masterpiece.

Having seen it a number of times, I've picked up on clues from both dialogue and smaller things. Like camera angles seen from below the characters, shortened pants, the use of twins and triplets, the scenery outside rising, the view of being in a coffin inside the coffee shop, the mix of Ewan and Ryan's characters etc... etc...

But, the one thing I've never fully understood, is the use of color. Throughout the entire movie the colors blue and yellow are exceptionally prominent and hyper pigmented. Whenever these two colors are in a scene, all other colors are muted or neutral. I've also noticed that at specific moments when realities begin to collide, the use of a green (mixing of blue and yellow) is used. But WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN!?!???!!!!?

Anyone else notice this or have I just forgotten to take my meds again?

[–] nsaturay1 15 years ago

If you have the DVD, they explain the yellow-blue coding in one of the scene-specific commentaries. :)

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Yata!

[–] king_of_staunton 15 years ago

Yeah!

I was thinking that! Those horrible yellow trousers that EM wears!

[–] NoPort 15 years ago

I have the DVD and watched the full commentary on the movie but aside from one of the guys mentioning it and then being chastised by the director for doing so, they never mention the why behind the color choices. They do mention the colors just not the "why".

If your dvd version is different and has additional commentary where the director FINALLY allowed the crew to discuss additional plot/context clues hidden in the visuals AND the "why" behind them, please share as I'd also be interested in hearing what it is.

[–] jashywashy 15 years ago

I know exactly what you are talking about, and it was a facet that bothered me throughout the film as well, because I couldn't pin down the reasoning behind it. I couldn't understand WHY there were so many primary colors all over the place, and so highly saturated at that. I saw RED, BLUE, YELLOW, and GREEN all over the place. It wasn't until the end of the film that I came to this conclusion. Henry (Gosling) was an aspiring artist (notice he wears the same exact base outfit in every scene). His "dream" was fantastical and surreal. So what was stopping him from making poignant moments have certain color emphasis? That is what an artist thinks about before swiping colors onto a canvas. I'm not saying that this is the cold hard truth behind the blatant color usage. This is just what I got out of watching this fantastic film until the end. But I am with you in trying to understand the "why" concerning the use of those particular colors in certain situations. My realization is that there is no specific reason for certain colors, but just for the use of these primary colors in general, relative to paintings and Henry's dream.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] sofia2173 14 years ago

i just wanted to reply and say i have no idea what's happening with the colours, although i would like to know the significance, but i completely angry with everything else you say.

i love the symbolism, no other film that turns out to be a dream is more dream-like than this!
i too have seen this so many times, and every time it seems to get better!

[–] Algracyk 13 years ago

It seems to me that the yellow and blue color emphasis throughout the film is based on the fact that in reality, Henry is seeing the yellow of the lights above him, and he is surrounded by night, which the yellow lights would soften to a blue color, instead of black. They represent aspects of his real situation intruding themselves into the dream segment he's using to avoid accepting what is really happening to him.

[–] Arcaeus 10 years ago

I have noticed that the colour red is also used a lot in the film.
Almost every scene has something red, blue and/or yellow, the primary colours.

It is mentioned in the film about artwork that, 'We are drawn to the brightest parts.'

My understanding is that the use of these colours makes our subconscious tread deeper into the film.

Never argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.