THE HOURS

Technical Analysis

M. De Marchi, V. Gheno, M. Pilieci, E. Vedovato, M. Zinovieva

DIRECTION AND SCRIPT

• The movie was based on the novel of the same name written by Michael Cunningham, thought to be impossible to transpose in film

• The script was done by David Hare that had to change several passages
• In the film was given more importance to the parallelisms between what happens to the protagonists to explain their interior thoughts

• The direction was given to Stephen Daldry, famous for his theatrical works

• Great importance was given to the cutting from one scene to the other
• The structure of the film reminds in some way the style of Virginia Woolf and is highly symmetric

CUSTOMES

• Ann Roth: customes designer of The Hours
• She’ve had the idea for Nicole Kidman’s prosthetic nose

• Roth operates more like a subliminal image-maker, she offers improvements for the story and the actors
• Hidden details inside the film
• 2003: Roth received a nomination for the Oscar as Best Costume Design

MUSIC

The original score was composed by Philip Glass, famous for his artistic collaboration:

• in “The Truman Show”
•  with Mick Jagger, Leonard Cohen and David Bowie

The album won the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music

“The Poet Acts”: First scene 

“Morning passages”: Quiet scenes

“Dead Things”: The bird's funeral 

“Escape”: Richard's death 

“The Hours”: Final Scene

• Point of conjunction between scenes and ages, just very little differences
• Music as Stream of consciousness, highlighting the moments of self revelation or reflection on the protagonist's lives

• Music/Silence very important to show the importance of the particular scene, as to invite the public to reflect on it, to find some deeper meaning
• Piano and Violin family instruments (Cello, Viola, Violin...)

TRIVIA

• "The Hours" was the original working title of Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway"
• Nicole Kidman loved wearing the prosthetic nose
• Nicole Kidman learned to write with her right hand (Virginia Woolf was right-handed)
• She also read all of Virginia Woolf's personal letters
• Come Oscar nomination time, the film caused problems for makers Paramount and Miramax: best supporting actress or best actress?