I've never really got involved in the love triangle debate. This is just a visual analysis of a few scenes in the film. Even though I am a law student, I do know a little bit about film since film study was my major.

Usually, unless the film is a documentary or a realist film, everything in the frame has a purpose. This is especially true in animations. I am sure Nomura knew exactly what he was doing when he was placing the characters in the frame, the colors, the lighting, etc.

In the one scene, forgot what it's called, but Cloud and Aeris are standing back-to-back in a profile position. When Aeris is in the frame, it is a close up of her chest and you do not see her entire face. To me, this represents that, although their backs are touch, Aerith and Cloud are still seperated at this point in the film.

Yet, when two characters are against eachother, like Aerith and Cloud (when they are back-to-back) it is considered an intimate proximity in the mise-en-scene. Characters that are this close to eachother usually are lovers. An equivalent scene to measure this against would be when Tifa and Cloud are passed out in the church. But in this scene, while Tifa and Cloud are close to eachother, they aren't touching in an intimate position and thus are in a personal position -- the proximity associated with friendship.

This scene can be measured against the scene after Cloud is revived and he is standing in the pool of water in the church. Throughout the film, the water has represented Aerith, and Tifa even talked to a water drop as if she was talking to Aerith. Also, when the phone is at the bottom of the place where Aerith died, you can hear Aerith's voice almost talking through the phone since it was connected to the water. When Cloud sees Aerith turn to him and he says that he is not alone, we know that he isn't alone because he knows now that Aerith will always be with him. In fact, he is standing in the water that represents Aerith while he says this. But Tifa, Barret, Cid, etc.; they are all standing outside the water and at a social distance from Cloud, while Aerith's presence is very near to him.

Tifa does appear in the frame a lot in this film. But the final shot isn't of Cloud looking at Tifa, it's of him watching Aerith walk away. Juxtapose that scene with the very next scene of Cloud riding away on his bike towards the flowerbed. Aerith leaves and Cloud follows.

Also, in the very final shot of Calling, we see a table with pictures and a giant flower. According to theorists, the two colors people see first when they arelooking at a picture are green and yellow. That's why most traffic signs are green and yellow. The flower is green and yellow, it is the first object that a spectator should see when they look at the frame, thus of more importance than the pictures of the Tifa, Barret and the family.

Of course, this is just one interpretation, and sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, but I've seen enough of the Cloud/Tifa arguments to know what grasping at straws is. I don't think I am.
:cleris:

Heh, I'm not much of an analyst. I just remember stuff that I notice.

But amazing thought on the flower thing. For me it was just more implication that Cloud visits the flower field every now and then. And since he's still continuing his business, he'll be a regular visitor.

Whoa interesting about the flower being the first thing the viewer sees. ^_^ And it helps that Cloud's hair is yellow. :lmao:

"Aerith leaves and Cloud follows." I like that line. ^_^

Interesting observations, svan81!!!

Wow, great observations, svan81! ^_^ *Takes notes*

Very interesting indeed! I completely agree with your analysis of the "back to back" scene. Two people of the opposite sex standing back to back (as if resting against each other)...quite romantic, if you ask me. It pretty much spells out 'trust' and 'deep affection'. Interesting, too, how Aerith reaches over to touch his arm...and he turns around to try to see her face. The two are quite responsive toward one another.

In comparison to Tifa and Cloud's church scene, the two were knocked out and completely unconscious. It's not like they had a choice and picked that position to be in, right? :P

I think Cloud and Tifa are rather 'distant'...to the point where Cloud even seems cold around her at times. Notice how, most of the time, she's talking to his back. I definitely get the impression that Cloud is reacting to family/a very close friend nagging at him to fight on. :cleris:

Lovely analysis.

And a great choice of icon! Spike is my Lover T_T They call me SIML! ^_^

I'm actually surprised the Tifa and Cloud talking immediately starts with Aerith and Cloud talking. Talk about blatant it's not even funny.

Cloud didn't really bother to answer Tifa's questions, and she'd do the answering for him. When Aerith asked questions, Cloud gave a very personal answer almost immediately. Aerith would touch his arm, in which Tifa never even did, and Cloud turned to try to look at Aerith, while at Tifa he had his back at her and spends the time eyeing the floor.

Did you guys notice that Cloud only glanced at Tifa one time when he pulled up on his bike during Bahamut's rampage? However, when Denzel spoke, Cloud turned and looked right at him. :lol:

Interesting analysis svan81, I didn't think think that far about the back to back scene, I just thought it was very cute! :lol:

I did notice everything else you mentioned though, about how water was a representation of Aerith and the bright contrast of the flowers and the Avalanche photo in the end. Good job with writing this.

FFG, I don't remember, or I didn't noticed Cloud's gaze at that part, I'll have to watch the movie again. I've been refraining from watching the movie too many times because I don't want to get bored with it once I get my hands on the real DVD. :P

Lovely observations! *gushes*

I'd like to add that Cloud had his arms crossed in front of him when he was unconscious in the flower bed. I remember reading somewhere that crossing your arms is a defensive gesture, indicating that you're guarded and closed to interacting. :yes: CloTi's must be mad to think the scene is anywhere near romantic. If anything, it proves that Cloud thinks otherwise. :lmao: :cleris:

:hyper: WONDERFUL!! I love your analysis

*cough* now we can even use film study to prove Clotayz wrong :plot: *cough*

lol j/k but whoa....Nomura is such a subliminal mutha effer XD

ooooohhh teh juicy goody Cleris evidence I'm lovin it XD

I like your analysis much, well done ^o^ it's very romantic with your back-to-back theory ^_^

What an excellent, excellent analysis! Thank you very much for posting this. Also, in regards to this:

Like Clorith said, having an arm across the chest is a defensive position. It makes Cloud seem wary of the close contact. And also, being that Aerith is represented by both flowers and water in the game and the movie, in the church scene, the two are very present: they are in a flower garden surrounded by the yellow blossoms that seem to be associated with Aerith a lot, and when Cloud passed out, a drop of water was shown before the wolf appeared.

It made me think that, in that scene, it's actually Tifa, Cloud and Aerith who are shown and not just the former two. So it can't realy be that much of an intimate moment, maybe.

What a wonderful sentence. Doesn't it echo the game itself? It seems to me that every game Cloud and Aerith have both appeared in carry this theme.

Wonderful!

WOW! Thanks a billion for the insightful analysis! :gift:

I just signed up on this site, and I'm loving it already! Everyone so Pro-Clerith and offering evidence is a lovely, lovely thing after having heard so much CloTi propaganda :P .

Cloud x Aerith forever! :cleris:

Ah don't forget Cloud expression when he was in the rain. I swear if he didn't get shot at that moment he'd making love to the rain.

Rain = Aerith

"Ohh yeah.. Raiinn... Ooooh..."

O.O

...

XD

Oh man that was a very good analysis of those scenes. You are very insighful.

I remember that part with the rain when he just stood there looking up almost as if Aerith herself was pouring down on him. He looked so tranquil and serene

LMAO

I love this line so much! :D

:fangirl: (can't stop screaming) Your visual analysis is awesome! I too think Nomura is clever about giving hint to love scenes. He obviously does not want to irritate Cloti fans but, from film-making view, he's been given a great deal of assertion.

I know nothing about film theory, but I'd like to add one simply from a viewer's point:
If this film tries to attract poeple who have NEVER had played/heard FF7, its way of expressing characters' emotion should be colorful(or lighter?). Throughout the whole movie, scenes with brighter color and tender music most relates to Aertih.
That explains why some friends of mine who'd never heard of FF7 series would still consider Coud&Aerith are a couple~ :gift:
Surely Tifa's part of presentation in the film is way more than Aerith...However, I think S-E's stingy intention emphasises Aerith's importance in the other hand.
I remember some S-E's magazine posts about Aerith's scene. Before AC was released, there're still a question mark below those pics, writhing "Could it be...her?" & "Some mysterious girl standing back to back....Does she try to tell Cloud something...?"....And we can only see Aerith's lovely face in the end of the movie... :angry:
IMO, stuff like explains Aerith's presence is the main/key point to Cloud/AC.... :cleris: The main scene in movies always awaits the audience, right?

Again, this is just my dreamy idea..I learn nothing about film-making project..

The reason I quoted all of your great information is because it all makes sense.I have watched a lot of Japanese movies that have couples that do a lot of what Cloud and Aerith do.
And I am noticing that everyone likes the flower thing and I know when I saw that scene My eyes went to the flower adn then to the picture.
But i like all of your theories(/or truth) not just one them.
Good Job <3333

Wow! I love your analysis! Definitely thinking outside the 'box'!!!!!