Anna Calvi - Desire // Group Analysis

Cesco, Joe, Tom
Anna Calvi – Desire // Music Video Analysis

0:48-1:36

At the start of this section, there is a shot that has been well balanced to depict equilibrium through use of symmetry. This is a continued theme in the video. There is a skeletal mask central to the shot, with candles symmetrically placed around it, providing a soft eerie lighting, that results in the partial obscuring of the rest of the shot. The skull and candles combined create a religious theme, and relating to the lyrics, death through this deadly Desire (Goodwin).
During the pre-chorus, the editing is in time with the movements and flickering of both the light and the action of objects in frame such as the spoons and holy water, again connoting religious themes. This relates to Goodwins ideas about the visuals matching the sound.

Throughout this extract, the colour Red is increasingly prominent, with it being noticeable in almost all shots. It is used in a number of ways to develop different themes, for example, on Calvi’s lips; the Red creates a sexual undertone of desire, whereas with it being used as a lighting technique (1:14), it connotes fear and danger. In each shot, no more than one person is present at any one time, however from the shots the notion of voyeurism is more enhanced, as we as the audience feel that there is another entity present. This contrast between the repetition of “Desire” in the lyrics and the isolation in the shots could link to the contrasts between sex and intimacy, and what religion deems as correct or what is seen as conventional; religion is demonstrated to be very significant and morally correct through mise-en-scene (crucifixes, etc.) and how the temptation is corrupting this.