When studying your fi lm, make sure you take note of the costumes worn by the characters. They will help you understand the status and personality of the character. Use the questions examining the costume of the Mary Poppins character in Mary Poppins Returns to also examine costume in your studied fi lm.
Describe the costume:
Dark blue, fi tted trench coat made out of a sturdy fabric. Shiny red polka-dot leather
gloves with a matching dicky-bow. The hat is straw but dyed a deep red to complement the other accessories. Mary Poppins carries an umbrella with a bird’s head on top.
Does the character
wear this as part of their personality or because of their profession?
This costume is refl ective of her smart and organised personality but also because it is practical for her profession. She is a nanny and needs to wear practical, hard-wearing fabrics.
Is this costume
something they would wear often?
This is something she would wear often in the fi lm but sometimes she wears fancier costumes, depending on the scene.
What does the costume
say about their power (or otherwise)?
This costume is quite masculine in some ways. Mary Poppins
wears items that are historically associated with men’s clothes
such as a dicky-bow and trench coat. This makes her appear more powerful.
Explain
what the costume tells you about the
character at that moment:
The costume tells us that Mary Poppins is professional and
takes pride in her appearance. She looks confi dent in her clothes and probably takes very good care of them.
Fabulous Film 465 P. 127
Go to your Writing Skills Book to
K
examine costume in your studied fi lm.
What do the materials
and colours used suggest about the setting?
The materials used are typical of fabrics used in the 1930s, when the fi lm is set. The colours, however, are much more vibrant and bright. Because this is a children’s fi lm, it needs to be visually appealing.
