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The still to the left captures the longing and sadness that poor Charlie Bucket feels while watching his wealthier peers indulge their chocolate dreams. Charlie's face outside of the window juxtaposed with the sweet confectionaries on the inside instantly separate the young, unfortunate boy from the riches that he so desired.
The glass window is transparent enough for Charlie to peer through, yet solid enough for it to keep him away from his much-sought prize. Though much more superficial, Charlie's expression is reminiscent of the tone in Jacob Riis' 19th century How the Other Half Lives - a photo essay published in the same time period as Veblen's Theory of the Leisure Class. At this point in the film, clear glass is the only thing that distances Charlie from his sugar-coated fantasies. By the end of the movie, though, Charlie explodes through a different glass plane and captures a new and better reality. |
