There are many great scenes in Django Unchained, but one in particular stands out for me. After
ordering his dogs to tear apart a runaway slave, Calvin Candie stares up at
Django, who is on his horse. The two men look into each others eyes, all the
while a man is being viciously killed out of frame. They discuss Django’s
friend Schultz for a moment, then head on their way to the plantation.
That moment was a cinematic equivalent of a two man poker game.
For not even a minute, we learn more about the danger our protagonists face,
just how dastardly our antagonist is and more importantly the presence of a
power struggle, all without saying much. I love it when what’s unsaid speaks
louder than what’s being said.
Imagine that sequence with voice over narration, perhaps from
an older Django; does it make you angry?
