The Prestige

A FILM BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

Are you watching closely?

Director: Christopher Nolan
-Born: January 30, 1970 in London, England

-Began making short films at 7 years old

-Cerebral, non-linear story telling (The Prestige being one

example)

-Created The Prestige in 2006

-Opening scenes are usually a flashback or a piece of a scene from

the middle or ending of the movie. The image below is the
opening scene for The Prestige. This opening imagine is derived
from a scene in the middle of the film.
Plot Construction

Robert and his wife Julia are friends with Alfred Borden as well as
assistants for a magic show
Julia dies in a water tank
Alfred Borden does not know which knot he tied for the trick
Robert Angier blames Alfred for her death
They become enemies
Robert becomes obsessed with Alfred's secret trick and tries to
reveal it for himself
Roberts attempts to do this ends in tragic consequence
Secret regarding the Transporting Man is revealed
 Character Story Arcs: Robert Angier
Robert is a magician with
great showman ship. He is
generally level headed and
calm. He is focused on his
career and his wife Julia. He
is not a risky magician. He
does not show any signs of
obsession.
Robert looses his wife and he
blames his colleague Alfred
for her death. Robert steadily
becomes more angry and
paranoid. He seeks him out
for answers and receives
none. Robert is focused on
outdoing Alfred in his magic.
Robert is totally obsessed
with Alfred and continues
to seek out his secrets. He
is no longer seeking for
answers regarding Julias
death but only wants the
key to the transporting
man. Robert becomes self
destructive and is
ultimately killed.
Character Story Arc: Alfred
Borden
Julia has died and Alfred
does not know which knot
he tied the night of her
Alfred is a risky and
death. Alfred is conflicted
dedicated magician. He
with himself but soon
does not underestimate
begins to practice magic
his abilities and will do
like he did prior to her
anything to dedicate
passing. Alfred is angry
himself to his tricks. He is
that Robert is attempting
generally introverted.
to reveal his secret tricks.
In retaliation he tries to
humiliate Robert and
destroy his career.
Alfred has become even
more obsessed with his
magic. He is unsatisfied
with himself as he
believes he could always
do better. He is facing his
death for the supposed
murder of Robert Angier
but has a feeling that he
is still alive. Alfred is
obviously still very self
destructive as we learn
that he is not alone in his
actions. Alfred dies but he
also lives. We discover
the existence of his twin
who has also dedicated
his life to the act of the
Mood, Theme & Sound:
The mood of this film is very clearly reflected in the music and the
characters facial expressions.
The music is entirely instrumental and uses piano as the most common
medium.
Slow and somber like obsession.
The Prestige Scores Sacrifice is a great example of this.
(I had trouble embedding the video but here is the link to that song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt1-iRkOZ-c

The central theme of The Prestige is utter obsession. Obsession

is what drives the characters to their ends and it is what
motivates both of the main characters throughout the film.
Tone:
Tone is the way a movie makes the audience feel
The tone of this movie is mysterious
Why mysterious? Because the audience is along for the ride with
Robert trying to discover the secret of the Transporting Man
Need another example? We dont know which knot Alfred tied
when Julia died
Also, the entire film revolves around magic and illusion therefore
reinforcing that mysterious vibe we get
 MYSTER SCI-FI
Genre: DRAMA Y
Dramatic elements Like I have The image on the
The Prestige easily in this film are mentioned earlier, left side of the slide
greatly propelled mystery is the is a great example
falls into the drama,
by the characters focal point of the of how sci-fi is used
mystery, sci-fi in the film who with film because of the in the film. This is a
genre their superb acting magic tricks and scene where
showcase the secrets that prove Robert is visiting
experiences and to be a focal point the grounds of
emotions that the of the film. I would Tesla, a scientist.
characters in the say that if I had to He is trying to have
film are going choose one genre him build a special
through. out of the three I machine which will
would consider this later prove to
movie to be a replicate things,
mystery above all. including himself.
This is used as a
form of true
magic in the film.
 Lights and Color:

In any film, light and color play an important role in how the tone and genre are portrayed
to the audience. The images above are a great example of the old neutral shades that are
used throughout this film. The scene on the left where they are standing in Teslas power
field is a great example of the metallic sci-fi colors that are also used. The image on the
right, the machine built by Tesla, towers over its audience and stands in a haunting
shadow. Both images show different angles of color and light that Nolan uses to reinforce
his mysterious characters and their whereabouts.
Cinematography & Editing
There are many scenes where the audience is offered a POV shot.
For example when they are beneath the stage, they are invited to
discover some of the mystery involving the water tanks or
mattresses below. We are also invited to see Robert drowning
beneath the stage like in the image to right.
The editing is choppy and non-linear. We are introduced with the
end of the film and brought back to that same place by the end.
Christopher Nolan brings us back and forth in time and does not
offer an explanation for this until the end. This adds to the
suspense and mystery of the film.
Zooming In:
The true question: Is your legacy worth dying for?
LETS FOCUS IN ON THE ENDING SCENE OF THE PRESTIGE
We find out that Borden has a twin that goes as far as being hung to
preserve the trick
Is the electric cloning machine real? Or is it just a distraction from
the real problem?
You dont really want to work it out, you want to be fooled.
Sacrifice must be made to create the perfect illusion.
Christopher Nolan is trying to hide a larger question among all of the
other concepts
Trying to create a feeling of horror for the audience as they watch
people die to preserve their legacy. That is the true prestige