A Detailed Study Of “Danger In Moscow”
When a philosopher said that the human mind connects planets to pebbles, he was not wrong at all. The idea of “Danger in Moscow” by Martin Washington was derived from the song “Stranger in Moscow” by Michael Jackson. The director stated that he felt the song to be a warning to his countrymen. The images used in this song video indicated a grave future that is being prepared for an unprecedented odd. In reality, this indication came into reality and came to know as the U.S. prescription opioid crisis. To deepen a sense of gloominess and palpation, the director has attempted a completely new genre.
Martin Washington has made an application of animation and sketches that remind us of “Waltz with Bashir.” A haphazard movement of sketched figures somewhere breaks our usual visual habit. Along with it, the beat of the song creates a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. The way Bashir was in search of truth, here, Washington has put the audience in the shoes of Bashir. Here, we’re the ones who follow the trail and finally get an answer. The usage of camera angles is somewhat brilliant. In one scene, we see the animated Michael Jackson look at the mirror. The inexplicable horror in his eyes penetrates the audiences’ mind. Then we see the doctor who is injecting hallucinating drugs in the veins of Jackson. His reaction is also reflected in the mirror. His devilish smile resembles the face of the authoritarian government. His expression is flawlessly drawn as a crafty man who has dedicated his life to make others’ lives miserable. The camera angles are designed very minutely so that a sense of discomfort persists. The low-angle shots create a dictatorship over the audience. From the very beginning, these lower-angle shots focusing on very steep alleys have been successful in establishing a sense of dominance.
However, the ending of the movie suddenly shifts its mood of despair to redemption. The way Martin has presented the liberation of the soul is important in comprehending an immense urge for freedom. The director attempted to touch both worlds through his imagination. The angel is a metaphor for the destruction of all the shackles. This is how the common people are escaping the greater consequences decided by the state.
The sketches or animations are drawn with extra dark shades. A lack of harmony in the figures makes the dysfunctional state of mind. Now, if we concentrate on the narrative building, we will discover some particular things. The figure of Michael Jackson has been focused on as the protagonist. He represents a whole community of frightened citizens. The uncertainty and anxiety in his eyes indicate a previous bitter experience. His questioning stare knows that something very unpleasant is going to take place. After a certain time, this expression of the protagonist turns into an independent aspect of the film. As the director stated that he was always engaged more in the mechanism of the moviemaking than the movie itself. He has become a successful observer and he indeed has directed a movie where the situation has become an individual character. The significance of the protagonist is measured through his expression.
