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Wes Anderson's Films - Colour Appreciation

Becky Goddard
Sep 26, 2016
2 min read

I won't be the first person to talk about the use of colour for sets and costumes in Wes Anderson's films, I know there is lots of coverage. Recently I re-watched the Grand Budapest Hotel and the effect of it was mesmerising and almost hypnotic. Because I am a bit of an 'instant informationahaolic/movie buff wannabe' I had to google Anderson to get a list of all of the films he has directed and worked on and to have a good look at which ones I have seen and which ones I need to see. From this I learnt that Anderson has also worked on commercials such as 'Prada Candy' transferring his brilliant aesthetic into advertising for a commercial high end product.

(A still from Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014)

Not only do his films have a distinctive colour palette, that reoccurs through the film, there is also the way that they are shot using wide-angle anamorphic lenses, and often very central, straight on symmetrical shots. Pink was the most dominant colour in 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', typically one could assume that this could make it a very feminine film, yet it isn't. A warm yellow was prominent in 'Hotel Chevalier' and of course blue in 'Life Aquatic', I could go on talking about each film and the colour palette in detail but it is something you need to look at not read about, words can't quite describe the impact and his unique use of colour. Some would describe this colourisation as 'dream like' or surreal.

(A still from Hotel Chevalier, 2007)

On Pinterest and Tumblr there are several accounts dedicated to working out the construction of Anderson's colour palette. I believe it is hard to imagine his films in black and white, the use of colour creates a unique fantasy world which immediately captivates the audience. I admire the subtleties and tiny details how he has made every day objects in what would be an ordinary room, yet due to the colour coordination this creates a stunning visual effect.