Although we did not talk about foreshadowing as an element in films this term, it is a key element is American History X. The ending of the movie is the shooting and killing of Danny Vineyard. This event was foreshadowed a few scenes earlier as well as a scene much earlier in the movie. Earlier in the movie, a few black kids were beating up a scrawny white kid in the bathroom for ratting them out for cheating. Danny, who was in the bathroom the whole time walks out of the bathroom stall. He stares at one of the black kids, Little Henry, and blows smoke in his face. Two shots succeed that: First, a close up

Personally, I think one of the most important cinematographic languages used in the movie is the usage of light and dark. The main conflict in the movie is between black and white. Kaye makes it a point to show the audience the contrast between black and white. In the scene where Derek kills the two black men, he has his white boxers on. His boxers combined with his fair complexion make his white skin shine in the street light. The black guys are wearing dark clothes, plus with their dark skin makes them look even darker in the black and white film stock. This stresses the separation between black and white. When a police officer comes over to Danny who is on his knees to escort him into his house, the cop casts a huge dominating black shadow of Danny’s vulnerable weak looking character. Almost as if Derek’s actions have just blackened Danny’s thoughts.

Another element successfully used by Tony Kaye in this film is symbolism. The symbolism in the movie shows how separated Derek was from other cultures. Derek, played by Edward Norton, has a very fair complexion. Every flashback the movie would show would be in black and white. The fair skin of Derek shined like a ghost in the black and white film. The blacks or Mexicans or Asians in a flashback looked even darker than their true color due to the black and white film. This way it gives the audience a perspective through black and white being a bigger separation that white flesh and brown flesh. The symbolism is showed throughout the entire movie and shows how much Derek was separated from other cultures.

American History X has very good usage of sound effects. In the scene where Derek murders the two black men, before he kills the second one Danny is screaming “No!” At this moment high pitched music is playing like the type in the movie Psycho when the “mother” tries to kill the woman investigating. Then when Derek kills the guy, Danny falls to his knees and at that moment the music suddenly deepens into a very deep bass tone.

of Henry’s dark eyes, staring into Danny’s; second, a close up of Danny’s eyes staring r

Some topics in this essay:
Danny Derek, Derek Danny, American History, African Americans, Little Henry, Tony Kaye, American Derek, Sweeney Sweeney, Mexicans Asians, Derek Derek, black white, american history, tony kaye, dr sweeney, white film, black white film, movie black, sweeney african american, beach buildings, throughout movie, earlier movie, danny’s death, director tony kaye, american history movie, dr sweeney sweeney,