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Scene Analysis - Alfie (1966) He's Younger Than You

Scene: He's Younger Than You

Throughout the film of Alfie, we are gathered by a strong main protagonist that treats females as sexual objects or house wives. However there are moments when Alfie is no longer looked upon as powerful when next to women. Examples of this are with the female doctor and Ruby.Typically this film shows how one young man can take over the "world" by controlling women. Ruby is not a part of this as she shows dominance and power. Much like Alfie's character throughout the film. This therefore gives reasons on why Alfie would be appealed to Ruby's nature as they have the similar attitudes towards relationships. This is also represented in the scene 'He's Younger Than You'.


Alfie does not look impressed

Firstly when looking into more detail about this scene, you can see by the use of cinematography that Alfie is becoming jealous. This is unlike Alfie's usual character as it is usually the other way round. This helps to give an indication that Alfie has met his match and is finally intimidated by a women figure.  The cinematography in this scene is done by a zoom into the guitar. The close up shows the belonging of another person that is not Alfie or Ruby's. Jealousy is shown when the close up is then transformed into the next image of Alfie's angry facial expressions. Concluding that Alfie has noticed that there is an object there that is not usual. Alfie then acts up on this by questioning if someone was here. If Alfie was not jealous, he may not of even asked.

Close up on guitar
During the swinging sixties, women were finally trying to become there own person. Becoming strong independent women, that no longer wanted to rely on a man to look after them. This is reflecting in the film Alfie by 3 female character, the nurse, doctor and Ruby. It shows how women are trying to get out of becoming the stay at home mum and wanting to learn something by working. Ruby is a great example of this as she is a very successful business women that has men wanting her. Ruby has 3 hairdressing salons and is seen to be very independant. she has no intention on hurting anyone, but has similar styles of personality as Alfie. This helps create forceful passion as Alfie before this has not met anyone like Ruby. When Alfie and Ruby first met, Ruby gave the attitude that she was not overly attached. This very different to most women in the film as the rest were interested in love.  Alfie seemed to like this approach and is then represented when Alfie comes with flowers to Ruby's home when before saying he doesn't give flowers to his girls.

Aflie gives Ruby flowers.

Alfie is constantly seen more vulnerable during this scene as it is the first time he has given flowers, come round to suprise a women and then found out she doesn't actually care. This is not the life that Alfie is used to and shows how he cannot understand how someone would not want him. The once charming man has become someone that is finally no wanted. Alfie has always before Ruby gone for a younger women, younger women were seen as more attractive to Alfie and Alfie always saw them as much easier to deal with. On the other hand when Ruby came a long, there was no one else that stayed in his mind like Ruby does. Due to this, Alfie completely changed what he ever believed in. This is represented in buying flowers and asking if another man is in the bedroom. There have been many moments when Alfie has seen to be jealous, this has happened when the other of his son guilder left to find a man who truly cared, another example is when Annie has been writing about another man in her diary and Alfie is not impressed. This therefore shows that Alfie can not handle a women, not wanting him. This in then shown in this scene when Alfie throws the flowers in the water to show he no longer cares. This is the stage where Alfie is seen hurt and we begin to feel worried that Alfie may go back to his own ways. The flowers being thrown is also another metaphor for when he threw the steak and kidney pie to show when Alfie has given up.

Alfie is hurt

When Alfie goes to look into the bedroom we get the feeling of suspense that we don't know if Ruby has anything to hide or not. The moment is captured by editing of each characters facial expression being seen before the door is opened. This makes us hang onto our chairs with the urge to know what is in the room. The worried facial expression that is show by Ruby looks as if she is hiding something. Realising that Ruby doesn't actually care about Alfie gives the feeling of sympathy for Alfie at this moment in the film. The feeling of sympathy is not always shared during the film for Alfie, it can seem that he deserves this... But does anyone?

Facial expression: Unimpressed. 

Facial expression: Worried. 

In conclusion to this scene: Alfie doesn't realise what the other guy has that Alfie doesn't and the words that can never be forgotten is from Ruby's response: "He's Younger Than You". This shows that Alfie has finally met his match and cannot handle the feeling of actually wanting to be with someone. Resulting in what Alfie does best, leaving.





As always,
Hit That Film!

-Gemma Card 

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