Film Language Tag: leitmotif (literature and film)
A frequently repeated phrase, image, symbol, or situation in a literary work, the recurrence of which usually indicates or supports a theme.
"From Her to Eternity", Wings of Desire
Damiel (Bruno Ganz) finds Marion (Solveig Dommartin) at bar during a Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds concert.
"Why Am I Me and Not You?", Wings of Desire
Damiel (Bruno Ganz) watches Marion (Solveig Dommartin) dance alone at a Crime & the City Solution concert.
A Real Tank, Life Is Beautiful
Giosuè meets the US soldier who comes into the camp with his tank.
Abuela Claudia, In the Heights
Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz) passes away during the heat of the blackout.
Adam and Camilla's Engagement Announcement, Mulholland Drive
At Camilla’s invitation, Diane attends a party at Adam’s house on Mulholland Drive and is upset to discover that Camilla and David have become engaged.
Anna and Katerina, Eternity and a Day
Alexandre (Bruno Ganz) visits his daughter Katerina (Iris Chatziantoniou) and gives her letters from her mother Anna (Isabelle Renauld). Katerina reveals she has sold the old family home.
Backsliders, Hypocrites, and Ex-Church Members, Hell-Bound Train
The hell-bound train has a coach for religious backsliders, hypocrites, atheists, and former church members.
Closing Scene, The Night Porter
Max and Lucia dress up and leave the apartment.
Closing Sequence, Past Lives
Nora (Greta Lee) walks Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) to his Uber to the airport. The pair say goodbye.
Closing Sequence, Taste of Cherry
At night, Mr Badii (Homayoun Ershadi) lies awake in his grave as a thunderstorm begins.
Closing Sequence , Hell-Bound Train
Death flags down the hell-bound train as it enters Hell.
Closing Sequence, Mulholland Drive
Diane realizes the ramifications of what she has done and takes her own life.
Confrontation, Deewaar
Officer Ravi (Shashi Kapoor), now knowing his brother Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) is a career criminal whose successes come from corruption, attempts to coerce Vijay to sign a legal document confessing his crimes.
Fallen Angel, Wings of Desire
Damiel (Bruno Ganz) receives Cassiel's (Otto Sander) help shedding his immortality. Damiel experiences Berlin as a human.
Feelings Unspoken, Nostalgia
Andrei (Oleg Yankovsky) talks with a little girl named Angela.
How Long Does Tomorrow Last?, Eternity and a Day
Alexandre (Bruno Ganz) revisits the empty family home and recalls Anna's (Isabelle Renauld) letter.
Left Hand, Right Hand, The Night of the Hunter
Harry (Robert Mitchum) charms Willa Harper (Shelley Winters), the widow of a thief, and her children John (Billy Chapin) and Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce).
Max and Lucia Meet Again, The Night Porter
Max sees Lucia again while working as a porter at the Volksoper Hotel.
Music for Dora, Life Is Beautiful
Guido uses the gramophone at the party to play some music for Dora.
Opening Sequence, Eternity and a Day
Three boys run into the sea.
Opening Sequence, The Night of the Hunter
Serial killer and self-proclaimed preacher Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) is on the run from the law.
Opening Sequence, Hell-Bound Train
The hell-bound train is conducted by the Devil. The first coach is dancing and bootlegging.
Opening Sequence, Mulholland Drive
An unidentified woman in a limousine escapes the threatening men driving her unharmed after the car is involved in a collision.
Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, In the Mood for Love
Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung) rehearse their farewell before Mrs. Chan goes to room 2046 only to find Mr. Chow already gone.
Sex with a Man, Go Fish
Daria (Anastasia Sharp) is interrogated in a dream by a group of women who argue she isn't a lesbian.
Souvenirs of a Killing, Vertigo
Scottie (James Ferguson) and Judy (Kim Novak), now transformed as Madeleine again, revisit the bell tower.
Stop Those Blues, Bring Hymn Book, Hell-Bound Train
The third coach of the hell-bound train is for jazz music.
Sweet Mulberries, Taste of Cherry
Mr. Badii (Homayoun Ershadi) picks up a man (Abdolrahman Bagheri), who tells him about his attempted suicide in 1960.
The Afghan Seminarist, Taste of Cherry
Mr. Badii (Homayoun Ershadi) picks up an Afghan seminarist (Mir Hossein Noori), who declines the job.
The Bell Tower, Vertigo
Scottie (James Stewart) brings Madeleine (Kim Novak) to the mission in her dreams.
The Chaser Opening Title Sequence, The Chaser
A list of opening titles superimposed upon the antagonist claiming another victim and our introduction to the protagonist.
The Heavens Over Berlin (Opening Sequence), Wings of Desire
Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander), two angels, observe the lives and listen to the thoughts of Berliners.
The Kurdish Soldier, Taste of Cherry
Mr. Badii (Homayoun Ershadi) picks up a young Kurdish soldier (Safar Ali Moradi).
The Sad Carlotta, the Mad Carlotta, Vertigo
Scottie (James Stewart) and Midge (Barbara Bel Geddes) hear the story of Carlotta from Pop Leibl (Konstantin Shayne).
The Turkish Taxidermist, Taste of Cherry
Mr. Bagheri (Abdolrahman Bagheri) agrees to do Mr. Badii's (Homayoun Ershadi) job.
The Wages of Sin, Hell-Bound Train
Immorality has a coach in the hell-bound train. Two couples engage in extramarital affairs.
Thou Shall Not Steal, Hell-Bound Train
The hell-bound train has a coach for thieves and crooks. Two boys caught stealing apples become imprisoned.
Trial By Water (Closing Sequence), Nostalgia
Andrei (Oleg Yankovsky) crosses the drained baths with a lit candle and collapses.
Voices of the Gods, In the Heights
Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) shows Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) her work and Usnavi decides to stay in Washington Heights.
Why Be Such Fools?, Hell-Bound Train
The hell-bound train has room for gamblers and murderers. A man loses his wages and his life from gambling.
