This scene takes place in Sherlock’s ‘mind palace’, a place that he escapes to in order to think clearly. The use of light, pacing and camera coverage allows this pretend place to be created while engaging the audience completely.

 

The lighting is soft and direct, the key lighting appearing to be coming from above, yet still allowing the close up shots of the characters face’s to be well lit from the front. The room itself is not overly important to the scene so therefore the lighting focus remains on the two characters, helping to add to the suspense of the scene.

 

The pacing is fast, with the editing not allowing for a seconds break in between the characters conversation. Of course a normal conversation could never occur like this, but this use of pacing allows the audience to feel for a moment what it is like in Sherlock’s brain, while also building up the tension immensely as the time passes, Sherlock does not have much time, but even he cannot stop his brain from bringing in childhood memories and person fears into his thoughts.

The music, which in the previous scenes has been building, slows slightly and allows a moment for Sherlock to clam down towards the end of this scene.

 

The shot construction is simple in this scene. Starting with establishing shots of the characters’ whereabouts, that slighting track towards the characters. It then proceeds to depict a series of shot reverse shots as the two converses.

 

This simple piecing together of the shots is made interesting by the way in which the shots are taken. They are to show each of the characters’ first person point of views and this allows the feeling of inadequacy that Sherlock feels to be depicted through the use of angles creating a juxtaposition between the powerful, Sherlock’s brother, and the weak, Sherlock as a child.

 

The scene ends with the child Sherlock turning and it transitions back to where the adult Sherlock is turning in the same fashion.