Cinema and TV have always pushed the boundaries of art by adopting various techniques that make films memorable and poignant. One of them is a 16th century technique called ‘breaking the fourth wall’ popularized by directors like Oliver Hardy in ‘Stan Laurel’ and Woody Allen in ‘Annie Hall’ that has managed to bring the audience closer to the protagonist’s emotional vulnerabilities and immerse them into the fictional world more deeply.
It’s a pretty common device used by filmmakers and creators to develop the storyline and add a dynamic twist to the narrative. The term originated from theater plays where the fourth wall was the imaginary wall at the front of the stage separating the fictional world from the real. Hence the fourth wall allows the characters to be unaware of the fact that they’re a part of the reel world. When a performer cuts through this wall and addresses the audience directly it’s called breaking the fourth wall. It can be deployed via audio voice overs, looking at the camera or addressing the audience by way of dialogue.
Recent films and TV shows like ‘Deadpool’ ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, ‘The Office’, ‘House of Cards’ among others also used the fourth wall to bring comedic relief to the scene and share inside jokes with the audience that made the impact of the scene much more magnified. The unconventional yet captivating choice made by creators to use this format has made the films more immersive for viewers to enjoy and let casual watchers better comprehend the intricacies of the plot.
Closer to home, there are numerous instances in films like ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’, ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’, ‘Barfi!’ ‘Lust Stories’ and ‘Sanju’ among countless others that used this technique making the scenes more memorable and adding a dynamic to the narrative that might’ve otherwise been lost.
One of the most brilliant examples of this technique to come in recent times is Amazon Prime’s ‘Fleabag’. The show struck the right balance between witty banter and profound insights into the character’s psyche, allowing the audience to be privy to her intimate moments and vulnerabilities. It beautifully showcased how, when used right, breaking the fourth wall can not only enhance the narrative but also make the audience-protagonist connection more special.
The 1999 film ‘Fight Club’ also delved into the character’s psyche and explored the key revelations surrounding them by addressing the audience directly. It made for one of the most impactful pieces of cinema and an early benchmark for the way this technique should be used.
The fact that the viewer and performer can connect with each other and allow the former to understand the depths of the latter’s emotions while holding onto the threads of their fictional lives, even if it’s for a passing moment, is what makes breaking the fourth wall one of the most cinematic experiences out there.
I’m sure we’ve all related to a character’s struggles and their emotions, as if they were depicting our own life scene for scene, at one point in our lives. By breaking the fourth wall we are able to understand the characters and their motivations. Even a casual scene can rouse deep-seated emotions in the viewer with this technique.
Seeing the protagonist eye-to-eye, identifying with their struggles and sharing an intimate moment with them – isn’t that the beauty of it?
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