Design In Motions

Beyond the captivating performances and gripping narratives, the visual landscape of a film plays a crucial role in immersing audiences. Interior and set design, often overlooked, are powerful tools that filmmakers use to build worlds, convey character, and enhance storytelling.

Imagine a film without its environments. A sterile void, devoid of detail, where characters exist in a featureless space. Impossible, isn’t it? The very fabric of a movie’s reality is woven from the meticulously crafted interiors and sets that surround its characters. These spaces are not mere backdrops; they are silent narrators, revealing hidden truths and shaping our emotional response to the story unfolding before us.

Interiors Tell All
In Woody Allen’s 1978 film, Interiors, he masterfully used interior design to reveal the narrative, personalities, and emotional states of the protagonist. The characters’ pervasive depression is conveyed to the audience through their somber surroundings. Likewise, the melancholic atmosphere of Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love (2000) is evoked through the cramped rooms and narrow alleys. Sofia Coppola also excels at using set design and interiors to communicate with her audience. Whether it’s the faded, 1970s-evoking palette of The Virgin Suicides, the desolate hotel rooms of Lost in Translation, or the candy-coloured, escapist world of Marie Antoinette, when skilled screenwriting and directing are combined with a strong visual vision, the story unfolds with elegant nuance.

Sure, Countless films feature stunning production and set design. But if we’re talking about films that have really made a mark on design, influencing and inspiring the way things are created, then we’ve got to highlight some key titles. So, let’s dive in and see some of the most notable ones.

Everything Started at Metropolis
The starting point was likely Fritz Lang’s Metropolis in 1927, with its grand, ahead-of-its-time production design by Otto Hunte, Erich Kettelhut, and Karl Vollbrecht. They stunningly recreated an expressionist vision of a future world on screen. In an era devoid of visual technology aids, they relied solely on 1/16 three dimensional scale models, flat wooden relief models, drawing and paintings inspired by Bauhaus, Art Deco, and German Expressionism. This architectural and design masterpiece has since become a vital reference for both design and film, notably influencing science fiction classics like Blade Runner, Star Wars, and The Fifth Element.

Hitchcock Classics
When one thinks of Alfred Hitchcock, suspenseful film noir immediately comes to mind. However, his films are also renowned for their meticulous set design and interiors. Rear Window is a prime example, consistently ranked among the best mystery thrillers and set designs of all time. The mid-century apartment complex, constructed on a vast Paramount soundstage, utilizes numerous windows to frame the protagonist’s observations of his neighbors, akin to contemporary social media viewing. The unique interiors of each apartment reveal the residents’ individual characters and preferences, with the mystery unfolding through their windows. Hitchcock’s signature style is a blend of classic and contemporary aesthetics. Dial M for Murder further showcases his attention to detail, featuring the high, spacious ceilings typical of London apartments.

The Icon of 2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, a landmark science fiction film that envisioned humanity’s future, released in 1968, is celebrated for its visionary depiction of the future and its extraordinary production design. It’s not just the involvement of NASA consultants Frederick Ordway and Harry Lange in crafting the spacecraft, but the designer, Antony Masters’ masterful execution that brought the 2001 space dream to reality. What distinguishes Space Odyssey is its seamless fusion of futuristic and classical design elements. James Cameron, who saw it at 14, described it was ‘Mind blowing. It was like no cinematic journey like I’d ever seen before.’ Regardless of narrative comprehension, the film’s design brilliance remains undeniable, as Cameron rightly said.

The Whimsical World of Wes Anderson
While many film directors have their own distinct cinematic styles, the diverse nature of their narratives often leads to varied sets and designs tailored to each story. However, there’s one director whose signature extends beyond filmmaking style to a uniquely recognizable approach to set and interior design -It’s Wes Anderson. In most of his films, he crafts a world of whimsical colours, patterns, and exaggerated yet charming aesthetics, achieved through precise rhythm and proportion. From The Darjeeling Limited and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Royal Tennenbaums to Moonrise Kingdom, he gave us stunning visuals. Perhaps most notably, The Grand Budapest Hotel earned him an Academy Award for Best Production Design in 2014. He’s a beloved figure among millennials, almost a cult leader, and his interior design style is widely emulated on Pinterest. It’s safe to say he’s one of the most influential film directors on interior design these days.

2024 in Recap and The Room Next Door
The past year has seen numerous films with captivating set design and interiors. From the futuristic alien cityscapes in Dune: Part Two and the fantastical world of Oz in Wicked, both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Production Design, to the horror film The Substance, featuring Demi Moore as a reclusive Hollywood star in a central apartment setting. However, one film, despite its unfortunate Oscar snub, is sure to impress design enthusiasts with its impeccable artistry and perfectly gridded interiors, where every frame is worthy of an editorial photoshoot: The Room Next Door. This is Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language film, the internationally acclaimed Spanish director known for masterpieces like Talk to Her and Bad Education. Almodóvar’s films are celebrated for their cinematic and visual language. The Room Next Door tells the story of two reunited friends (Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore) spending their final days in a countryside villa, filmed at the architecturally stunning modernist Casa Szoke. The interiors boast minimalist modernist furniture, while Tilda’s personal apartment is filled with vibrant colors that contrast sharply with the equally striking costume design. Though it missed out on an Oscar nomination, the film has garnered numerous awards and remains one of the year’s most ‘beautiful’ cinematic experiences.

From Metropolis to The Brutalist
While films like The Room Next Door, centered on design, recently fell short in the Oscars race, The Brutalist promises to be a landmark: perhaps the first narrative film to place design at its heart. It tells the story of László Tóth, a Hungarian Jewish architect who finds refuge in America. His name is inspired by a geologist, while his design philosophy echoes the iconic Marcel Breuer, also Hungarian. László’s life mirrors his bold designs, which challenged prevailing aesthetic norms, reflecting the real-life exodus of Bauhaus designers to America during wartime. The film’s core theme, Brutalism, is more than just an architectural style; it embodies a raw, unvarnished honesty that may even reflect the ‘brutality’ of high society. These layers unfold as the story builds to its powerful climax.

Perhaps due to the resurgence of Brutalist design in recent years, The Brutalist has garnered significant attention and numerous awards this year. Both Metropolis and The Brutalist showcase the influence of Bauhaus and Brutalist design from Germany, marking a cyclical return after a century in both the design and entertainment industries.

Thai Directors’ and Their Favourite Interior Design in Movies

Banjong Pisanthanakun: The director behind numerous box office movies such as Shutter, Hello Stranger, Pee Mak, and The Medium, has recently taken on the role of producer for the remake of famous comedy film, Red Envelope, which will be in a theatre soon.

• The Shining
• Parasite
• Old Boy
• A Tale of Two Sisters
• Tár

Paween Purijitpanya: The director of Netflix’s hit series Tomorrow and I, who previously gained recognition for Body 19, 4bia, Phobia 2, and Seven Something.

• Grand Budapest Hotel
• Loki
• The Shining
• Poor Things
• The Fifth Element

Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit: The director of Happy Old Year and Mary is happy, Mary is happy, and the screenwriter of Bangkok Traffic (Love) Story.

• Tony Takitani
• Perfect Days
• Parasite
• Exhibition
• Enter the Void

Manatsanun Phanlerdwongsakul: A skillful and prominent actress in Thailand who has transitioned into directing. She has directed films, series, documentaries, and commercials.

• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Marie Antoinette
• Her
• The Square
• Perfect Days
• The Florida Project
• The Zone of Interest

Mutmee Pimdao Panichsamai: An actress-turned-director whose short films have been shown at art festivals, including the recent Bangkok Biennale.

• The Danish Girl
• Perfect Days
• The Greatest Showman
• Roma
• Begin Again