GWTW Reaction Post

 

A Theatrical release poster of Gone With The Wind, depicting a passionate embrace between Scarlett and Rhett. 

Gone With The Wind 

My reaction after watching Gone with the Wind is wildly conflicted. While I can appreciate the film’s groundbreaking techniques in cinematography, given how it serves a lot of technological and cinematic advancements for its time. I am entirely put off by the blatant pro-confederacy propaganda and racist caricatures the film embraces. 

Historical Flaws and racism

The film’s depiction of the north is very cutthroat. The movie pushes the narrative that the union’s goal of seceding the south and abolishing slavery is unfair to the south and serves as a foil to our white protagonist. Northerners are called “Yankees” and are portrayed as barbaric un-american soldiers defiling the south’s main practice of its economy. 

It is awfully framed as a romantic and nostalgic southern fantasy of life in the mid-to-late 1800s; while whitewashing the horrors of slavery and historical mistreatment of African-American slaves. We do not see the faults of the confederacy, or Scarlett realizing how morally wrong slavery is. In a movie about the beginning and climax of the civil war. 

It is arguable that the film is intended to show off a flawed perspective of sheltered southerners and the disconnection of their view of slavery through the eyes of Scarlet. But, I strongly disagree with this interpretation as the story almost feels like an old white southern reminiscing about the “good” days of the south, glossing over why the confederacy had to fail. I severely doubt that a majority of filmmakers in 1930s Hollywood would have that much self-awareness regarding racism. 

The movie does not show us the cruelty of servitude.

Hattie McDaniel in a promotional image
as "Mammy" from Gone with the Wind

 It feeds into the “happy slave” trope that its narrative embraces: the racist lie that enslaved African-Americans gleefully consented to being forced into labor. White slave owners are portrayed as “caring” figures who treat their servants well, contributing to the erasure of systemic violence and power imbalance between a master and their slave. 

The film does not shy away with its outdated archetypes at all, given it has a supporting “Mammy” character that embodies all the stereotypical devoted, motherly caretaker

qualities that Black women were characterized as in media beforehand. 

Positive Aspects 

While I will jump to criticize a lot of dated aspects regarding the film’s historical flaws, I do appreciate the core film-making qualities of Gone With The Wind. Many scenes in this movie were shot gorgeously, with lighting being used as an excellent way of conveying the intensity of emotions in certain character moments. 

Intense climax scene between
Rhett and Scarlett displaying unique lighting

The sequence where Rhett kisses Scarlett is my favorite scene in the entire movie, highly because of its use of expressive, yet harsh lighting. Scarlett’s outburst towards Rhett’s unexpected departure from the journey is enhanced with the three-point lighting effect. The atmosphere's colors perfectly represent the conflict between our two romantic characters: red being used to display confrontation. It highlights the struggle of regulating the temper in our emotional state. While orange adds to the agitation and heat of the situation.

The colors put you into perspective to how Scarlett feels, and the betrayal and anger she holds against Rhett for leaving her. 

Conclusion

Gone With The Wind is a film’s glorified depiction of southern life during the brink of the Civil war that advocates pro-confederacy Ideology. It has a hand in producing in its time and overlooks a lot of blatant racism garnered in the movie. I can recognize the movie’s unique character acting and impressive lighting effects being positive attributions of its existence. 

But also heavily dislike the way the film refuses to address its idealization of slavery.