Milieu is one of those words where you just feel smarter tossing it around. And since the word has its origins in French it rolls off the tongue nicely and can give the typical American a bit of international flair.
Of course, it can also come across as pompous and make you sound like a goofy Peter Sellers character. But it’s a great word that according to Merriam-Webster means, “The physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops.” One thing that fascinates me about Facebook photographs (new and old) is the stuff in the background; the cars, the buildings, the books on the shelf, the neighborhood, the stuff on the walls, etc. There is so much information there to learn about the milieu of our Facebook friends.
Here is how the director of The Caine Mutiny used the word milieu 26 years ago in relationship to screenwriting;
“Most people accept what they see much more readily than what they hear. Attention to class mannerisms and the style of dress can be of more value in establishing a character’s background than taking the easy way—through dialogue or flashback. And actors will welcome the challenge and the opportunity to enrich their roles.
“Another rich vein which rewards working is the description of a character’s immediate milieu. The kind of quarters a person lives in, its state of order or disorder, the quality and taste of its adornment, are all signs which carry cinematic potential. Does your protagonist hang classics on his walls, or center-folds? If he is rich and can afford to display originals, are they good or are they tripe, avant-garde or traditional? If he is poor and can afford only magazine reproductions, what is their content quality? As you can see, the milieu can indicate character and financial state without a word of dialogue.”
Edward Dmytrk
On Screen Writing
Can you think of a favorite scene that uses milieu well?
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[…] Milieu is one of those words where you just feel smarter tossing it around. And since the word has its origins in French it rolls off the tongue nicely and can give the typical American a bit of international flair. Of course, it can also come across as pompous and make you sound like a […] Original Source… […]