Sunset Boulevard

Question 1

Introduction

CFSNFR

Answer 1

Captured during the “Golden age of Hollywood” after the advent of “talkies,” In Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett’s 1950’s grim satire film Sunset Boulevard, Femme
fatale Femme
fatale, Norma Desmond’s clings to her decayed stardom asserting that “[she is] big! It’s the pictures that got small.” Highlighting the film’s haunting exploration of self-deception between illusion and reality. Wilder’s film explores Hollywood’s system that rewards image over substance, ultimately leading to consequences of the decay of the characters true identities, the nature of Hollywood’s relationships, where “embarrassing” matters of the heart are sacrificed for personal benefit, and that the facade of glamour and success masks despair, unveiling the dangers of clinging to the short nature of success. Ultimately, Wilder’s film noir serves as a reflection on the disillusionment of post-war America, where the pursuit of dreams can lead to haunting realities.

Question 2

Body Paragraph 1/3

SCIMMR

Answer 2

Sunset Boulevard presents the struggle of individuals to achieve and maintain a coherent sense of self. Norma Desmond embodies this by clinging to her “celluloid self,” constantly idealising her own image, frozen in time within her “grim sunset castle.” The mansion itself symbolises her decayed glory, a film technique reinforced by the film’s use of deep shadows, mirroring her emotional and mental entrapment. Her reliance on illusion is preserved by Max, her ghoulish butler, who fabricates fan letters and reassures her that she “is the greatest star of them all.”

Question 3

Body Paragraph 2/3

SOTDCBO

Answer 3

Max himself sacrificed his own sense of self to maintain Norma’s illusion. His identity is defined by his obsession with preserving Norma’s self-image due to his guilt of “[making] her a star” and not wanting to “let her be destroyed”. His perfectly tailored suits symbolise his submission to an bygone era, while the recurring broken mirrors in the mansion represents the shattered reality both characters inhabit. Norma’s distorted perception of her relationship with the “wonderful people…in the dark,” contrasts with Wilder’s cynical view of the industry.

Wilder’s belief that “an audience is never wrong” serves as a contrast to Norma’s outdated belief that her stardom is eternal.

Question 4

Body Paragraph 3/3

DUHE

Answer 4

Down-on-his-luck, Joe Gillis, on the other hand, grapples with his own identity crisis as he becomes increasingly entangled in Norma’s decaying world. Initially, Joe’s untidy attire reflects his detachment from Hollywood’s illusions. However, as he “[tries] to earn a living,” his identity becomes dependent on Norma’s wealth, symbolised by his gradual shift to more “Vicuna” suits. His “hunger” and financial desperation reflects his growing acceptance of the facade he once resisted. Sunset Boulevard illustrates how Hollywood’s illusions can erode personal identity, leaving individuals lost in a world where the lines between reality and illusion blur beyond recognition.