Light and The Grand Budapest Hotel

This scene in Wes Anderson’s comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel exemplifies an active use of controlled light.

Immediately apparent is how well lit the shots are despite the fact that the lights present as part of the sets would not have been able to provide such light. In other words, the shots are lit far beyond how they would have ‘naturally’ looked with just the ceiling lights etc.

The light Anderson uses for these scenes is very warm. This characteristic imbues the scene with a nostalgic whimsy; a hallmark of the directors body of work. This warmth, along with the softness of the light in the scene, creates a sense of light-heartedness. Anderson has sought through these lighting choices to create the feeling that the action on screen, although dramatic, should not be taken in any ominous seriousness.