Question

What is the definition of chiaroscuro lighting effects (as seen in Coppola's The Godfather)?

Answer 1

Answer:

The term chiaroscuro in filmography refers to a technique filmmakers use to highlight a light subject in a dark background. Thanks to this light effect, dramatic tension is increased. The term comes from it Italian, and it first referred to a technique painters started using in the 15th century to make objects seem three-dimensional on a two-dimensional surface. They achieved this by introducing a light source from a side of the painting and using a strong contrast between light and dark. This kind of lighting was developed by Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Vermeer, and Rembrandt, and today strongly influences filmography. The Godfather is only one of many examples of movies where this light effect is used.