Road to Perdition (2002) - Reflection In Cinematography

Director of photography Conrad L. Hall was amazing. He photographed so many stories we hold dear throughout the history of film.

(FYI, I discuss the end of the film in this post.)

One great aspect of the film is reflection and glass used in storytelling. Hall and Mendes crush it here.

Two major examples of this stand out. One is at night after the murder of family members, as Michael and Connor come face to face with only a pane of glass between them.
From Michael's perspective we see through, but from Connor's we see our own reflection, as more light is on Connor's side of the glass, creating a mirror. It's a phenomenal moment of suspense, basically built on lighting.

At the end of the film, we see glass in daylight, with a split balance of light on both sides, creating a double exposure in a sense, two images overlaid on each other, one with a character inside meeting his end, one with a character outside on the beach, healthy and alive, one day on his way to Heaven.

It's a visual, contrast answer to the film's core questions: Will this father, will this son make it? Will they be redeemed?

Again, storytelling basically built on lighting.

Directed by Sam Mendes, written by David Self, based on the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner.

Be well.
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