Visual Metaphor: The Power of Match Cuts in Filmmaking
A single cut can come with a lot more meaning than it meets the eye.
A match cut is easily one of my favorite things to see in a movie. In fact, every time it happens, I always yell “MATCH CUT” and am as happy as a kid in a candy store.
If you’re not familiar with the term, a match cut is a simpy a cut that connects two shots together based on their composition, subject matter, or action. The best thing about it however, is that despite it simplicity, It’s a powerful way to tell a story without the audience even realising it.
There are three main types of match cuts: graphic, audio, and movement. A graphic match cut focuses on one particular thing in the frame while everything else changes between the shots. An audio match cut connects two shots that are completely different visually, but share a similar sound, and a movement match cut carries the same camera motion or action between the shots.
So, let’s take a look at some examples from popular films. In James Cameron’s “Titanic” for exanple, there’s a scene where the audience needs to go back in time from present day to 1912. Instead of using a title card or establishing shot, Cameron employs a graphic match cut that goes from the remains of the Titanic at the bottom of the ocean, to a match cut of the ship in its prime about to sail away.
Another great example of a match cut is in Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” In the opening scene, we see an ape discovering that a bone can be used as a tool and weapon. He throws the bone into the air in celebration, and the camera cuts to a shot of a satellite orbiting the Earth millions of years later. It’s a visual metaphor that brilianntly illustrates the evolution of tools and weapons and how they’ve changed over time.
A favourite of mine that totally doesn’t make me cry is from Pixar’s “Up”.
A movement match cut is used to show the main character going from the funeral of his wife to his empty home. It’s a powerful way to convey his sense of loss and loneliness without saying a word. It’s just amazing.
In conclusion, match cuts are a testament to a filmmaker’s attention to detail and storytelling ability. They’re not something that can happen by accident, and they require careful planning and execution. When used effectively, match cuts can create a metaphor that tells a story in a matter of seconds and are a true testement to the power of visual storytelling.
Psst. If you enjoyed this — I also publish video essays about film history and the movie industry on my YouTube channel — Toni’s Film Club.
