The story of Divergent is set in a futuristic dystopian city, Chicago. The city, built by its founders, is divided into five factions that each represent a different virtue, Abnegation: The selfless Amity: The peaceful Candor: The honest Dauntless: The Brave Erudite: And the Intelligent Teenagers have to decide which faction they want to go for the rest of their lives and most teenagers belong to a certain faction. However, Tris Prior is not a normal teenager because she doesn’t know where she belongs. Because Tris has a secret, she is Divergent, which means she doesn't fit into any one of the factions. If anyone found out, it would result in certain death. However, as the story continues, Tris discovers a merging conflict that threatens to undo her seemingly peaceful world and this secret might help her save the people she loves. She might be the only one who can.
In the following essay, I will talk about the choosing ceremony where Tris Prior has to choose her faction for the rest of her life and the cinematic effects that help connect to the audience and help give us hints about the ending of the film. First, we start with the song playing in the background. When carefully listening to the lyrics here, I just can’t keep hanging on suggesting to the audience what Tris is feeling at the moment of not feeling like she can stay in this community. Then as she enters the chosen ceremony room we hear, to you and, clearly it means me, however, you do not hear me, once again confirming she does not belong in a faction. You also hear one of the other people from Dauntless say, You and me like the lyrics suggesting that Tris is alone with not know where to go. But it also suggests that she might go to Dauntless as she is in Dauntless as we later find out she does. Also, while entering the large room, with many happy and excited faces we hear the sound of a sizzling pile of ash. Tris turns at the noise and sees the 5 bowls where you choose what faction to go to. However, all she can see is the smoke from Dauntless, again hinting she is going to Dauntless.
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The room has everyone in the circular auditorium, on seats which are in clear view of the center. The structure of the seats creates drama because the focus of both the audience and the characters is directed into one place. In addition, tension is created by stuffing all different cultures into one place, this shows how different the factions are, and costumes also help aid this. This tells us that factions should never mix, and the costumes play a big part in helping the audience understand this. They vary from loose and colorful, to tight-fitting, black, and bold. The colors are also important to distinguish the differences between the factions. They help the audience understand that the factions are so different and that changing to and from is drastic. For example, Amity (kindness and harmony) wears yellow and orange tones. Orange signifies joy and creativity which correctly corresponds. Next, The auditorium has high-key lighting, showing how official and significant the ceremony is. One thing that stands out is the five spotlights that are pointed at each bowl. They are bright and create shadows. They create tension as the focus will be drawn to the lightest place, which will eventually be the person choosing. It also creates meaning for the audience as it portrays that they are the most important thing in the room at their time too.
Moving back to the start of the scene we have a mid-camera shot to show conversations between Tris’s family and the leader of Erudite, Janine Mathews. A mid-shot is used to show the difference in power between the two. Tris’ parents are shorter than Janine and Janine stands more aloof while also looking downward to obtain more authority we later find out she wants to be the leader of Chicago, however, Tris's brother Caleb is the only one at eye level to Janine suggesting he will go to the same faction as her. High and low angles are used to show authority and weakness. From Tris’s point of view, we have a high-angle shot to show how Janine has authority, but from Janine’s point of view, we have a low-angle shot which shows how Tris is small and frail. These aid the audience in knowing who’s in charge and it creates tension as we see the two personalities clash as Tris struggles to back herself up. The next camera technique is fading from close to a distance. This is used when Janine says, the future belongs to those who know where they belong. It is close to Janine facing the crowd then it focuses on Tris showing she still doesn’t know where she belongs. Then a close-up shot is when Tris is making her decision. It is used to show the reaction of the characters when something tense is happening. The shot creates tension for the audience because we get to see her reaction to her choice and how she was almost unsure about her decision as she moved from bowl to bowl. That moves on to the panning.
The camera shows a pan of the five bowls, slowing moving between them. This shows the audience that Tris doesn’t know which one to pick as the camera is working like her eyes would, moving along the bowls unsure of what to do. It also creates tension because it’s a slow pan which adds to the anticipation. During this whole moment of her up on the stage we hear a heartbeat. Hearing a heartbeat is usually when you are scared or nervous about something and your heart rate quickens to prepare you for what is next. This works right in favor of Tris's choosing as the audience is preparing for what comes next. Finally, at the end, we see a close-up of Tris putting a tape where she cut herself for the ceremony after choosing Dauntless as hinted telling us that the choice is sealed and cannot be undone.
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