Motifs in The Prestige

Motifs in The Prestige

A motif in a film is a repeated element that has symbolic significance and a deeper meaning. Motifs can be recurring sounds, motions, objects or phrases used throughout a film, their purpose is usually to emphasise the theme of a film. Motifs are used in the mystery thriller The Prestige. This film revolves around two magicians who get trapped in a cycle of competing with the other to become the greatest magician, pushing both magical and moral boundaries along the way. It explores themes of sacrifice, identity and freedom.

                        

                        
The theme of freedom in The Prestige is explored through the motif of cages. Throughout the film the magicians, Lord Caldlow and Robert Bodern and his twin, perform a trick that involves making a bird in a cage disappear and then reappear. When the trick is being performed close ups, such as the bottom shot on the right, are used. These close ups allow the audience to see what the magician is doing as they attempt to figure out the trick actually works. This draws the audience in and captivates them because they want to discover the secret behind the trick. This is repeated throughout the film, allowing the motif of cages to develop. The cages could represent the fact that both of the protagonists are trapped, much like the birds, in a cycle of trying to destroy the other’s reputation. They can’t escape this cycle and are forced by their own curiosity to understand the mystery behind their opponent’s tricks. This makes them much like the audience as they are desperate for information that they can’t receive until the end when everything is revealed. The parallelism between the audience and the protagonists is reinforced by the use of eye level shots because these shots put the audience on the same level as the characters and allow them to identify with the protagonists. Both characters are also trapped by their obsession with their own stagecraft. They are never satisfied with their current act and force themselves to create something bigger, better and more exciting. This results in them losing their families and friends as they are consumed and trapped by their desire to be the best. The cage is a key representation of how Caldlow is trapped by obsession because at the beginning of the film he was unwilling to kill a bird to complete the trick but by the end of the film he will kill clones of himself just to be better than Bodern. This motivation and determination is a common character trait for the protagonist in a mystery thriller as they are driven by their desire to find the truth. For example, in Gone Girl Nick Dunne is fuelled by the need to know what his wife has done and why, leading him into her dark and unsettling past with other men. The use of cages, as well as the bird trick in general, foreshadows the development of more extreme versions of this magic trick that results in the death of numerous clones emphasising the theme of mortality and bringing the value of human life into question.

In The Prestige, sound motifs are also used. Whenever either Bodern or Caldlow are on screen the score repeats a particular phrase of music. These different sound motifs emphasise the difference between the two characters and their separation now that they are competing with one another. 
          
The sound motifs of electricity and machinery are also used throughout the film to highlight the importance of Tesla’s inventions in the film. These auditory motifs also emphasise the relationship between magic and technology. This is unusual because science and magic are normally separate and act to diminish the belief in the other. Magic is also an uncommon aspect in most thrillers because they focus more on the harsh and brutal reality of the world instead of the mystic world of fantasy. The loud sounds of electricity and machinery as Tesla makes his entrance are unsettling and set the audience on edge. This establishes the idea that what Tesla is doing is disturbing and unnatural. It also makes the audience uncomfortable when Tesla is on screen because they don’t understand him or what his motives are.  The combination of science and magic further confuses the audience, however this also captivates them because, like the rest of the magic tricks in the film, they want to understand them and how they work together.

Disguises are also a key motif in the film, throughout The Prestige the characters use disguises to hide their identity and to complete their tricks. These disguises further emphasise the characters obsession because they can’t not know what the other is doing so they have to go and watch them. It also reinforces the hatred and separation between the protagonists because they can’t openly show their faces because if they did the other would get angry which would lead to even more revenge plots and investigation of each other’s trick. The disguises also relate to the theme of identity which is a major part of the film. For example, Caldlow slowly loses aspects of his identity and his feeling of self-worth as he continues to let his clones die so that he can enjoy being in the limelight when the trick is complete. It also relates to Bodern’s identity, this is because Bodern is actually two people. Bodern is made up of two men who are twins that use their identical appearance to complete their magic shows. However, because the two men have to act as the same person it means that they lack their own identity which negatively affects their relationships with others as they can never truly be themselves. This could also link to the tricks throughout the film because like Bodern they are never actually what they appear to be. The lack of identity that both characters have could call the audiences’ own identity into question and make them wonder what makes them themselves.

To conclude, the motifs in The Prestige are used to reflect aspects of the protagonists and to influence the audience’s views toward certain characters and the way they act. The use of the bird cage seems to be the most prominent motif in the film as it’s echoed throughout the film as are the ideas that it connotes. It emphasises major parts of the characters, such as their obsessions and how they are trapped and controlled by them. In our thriller opening we could introduce motifs that would be continued throughout the rest of the film, for example, our femme fatale always wearing an item of red could forebode danger and anger. This would be a subtle hint that would reoccur for the rest of the film.