The Portrayal of Stages of Grief in Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)

Abstract

Grief is a common theme in literary works, including film. While ample studies have been done to analyze stages of grief in films, these studies did not consider the role of film techniques in the portrayal of this theme. Therefore, this paper will explore how stages of grief are portrayed through the mise-en-scene and cinematography in Hideaki Anno’s Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021). Kübler-Ross’s (1969) model of stages of grief consisting of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance is used. In this movie, there are two grieving characters, namely Shinji Ikari, the main character of the movie, and Gendo Ikari who is the main antagonist of the story and Shinji’s father. Anger, depression, and acceptance are three of the five stages of grief that Shinji Ikari goes through. On the other hand, Gendo Ikari goes through the other two stages: bargaining and denial. The findings show how mise-en-scene and cinematography components, particularly shots and angles, help the filmmakers convey the emotional development of characters in coping with their grief. This study highlights that analyzing grief in films should go beyond narrative by examining how mise-en-scène and cinematography visually express characters’ emotional journeys, demonstrating that film techniques are essential in conveying the stages of grief. It suggests that a holistic approach, integrating both literary and cinematic analysis, offers deeper insight into how grief is portrayed and experienced in film.