Rushmore Scene Analyzation

This scene of Wes Anderson’s Rushmore gives insight into the personal identity of the protagonist, Max Fisher, as aloof and somewhat distant from his peers. The gray halls behind him contrast to his serious coat and tie which works as a symbol for his separation from his classmates. The students behind him laugh and talk, whereas he walks seriously and alone. This shows both that he believes that he is superior to the immature students, and at the same time, it shows his loneliness as compared to the other students. The hallway is lit brightly, but his navy appears to be darker, even more separating him from the students. Max’s coat also is ironic because it hides the fact that he, without saying it, is barely holding it together at Rushmore. Behind his serious attitude hides unspoken fear that he will not be able to attend Rushmore anymore because of his disregard for his grades. The angle of the shot is close and focused on Max himself, illustrating him as an outsider even more. Max walks in front of the other students and shows that he doesn’t have time for the other people around him. This connects back to his initial feeling of fear as he tries to hold it together during his time at Rushmore. If I had directed this movie I would have added a pack of cigarettes sticking out of Max's pocket because it would connect to the books Black Swan Green and Catcher in the Rye.