What is the Kuleshov Effect, how is it used in film, and how can you apply it in your own works? We've got the answers to all your questions in this article.
What is the Kuleshov Effect? +How to Use It With Examples
What is the Kuleshov Effect: Definition
Also known as the Kuleshov Technique (and sometimes the Kuleshov Experiment) or Soviet Montage (though this isn’t quite the same, more on that later), the Kuleshov Effect is a method where audiences pull out more meaning from a combination of two consecutive shots, compared to if each shot viewed independently. It’s named after Lev Kuleshov, a film-maker from Russia who ‘invented’ the technique.
Who is Lev Kuleshov?
Born in 1899 in Tambov (Russia), Lev Kuleshov and his mother moved to Moscow after his father's death and he went on to study art. Although Kuleshov was an art student, he was drawn to film because of its potential for expression and social commentary - he was very political. He began his filmmaking career during the years after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and became associated with a group of filmmakers who were part of the Soviet Montage movement and were trying to revolutionise cinema with innovative editing techniques combined with Marxist ideology. This is how Kuleshov came to develop what we know as the Kuleshov Experiment (or Effect).
Kuleshov Effect Development
Kuleshov was experimenting with his montage technique through the 1910s and 20s but the most famous development was when he juxtaposed the same neutral, expressionless face with other imagery: a bowl of soup, the coffin of a child, and a woman on a sofa. Audiences who were shown this, apparently praised the strength of the acting, commenting on the actor’s interest over the soup, sadness over the coffin, and admiration of the woman. In fact, the exact same piece of footage of the man had been used, but the audience saw something different in each comparison because of the nature of the second shot. In this way, Kuleshov realised he could influence emotions and manipulate how a viewer reacted to film. The example above is a recreation and not the original.
More About Kuleshov
Kuleshov's contributions to cinema went beyond the technique named after him, he directed a number of silentand sound films through his career and taught filmmaking and theory across a lot of different, respectable institutions.He actually went on to found one of the first dedicated film schools: Moscow Film School and was awarded People’s Artist of the RSFSR in 1969. Kuleshov is sometimes talked of as a controversial figure, as he apparently destroyed a number of important archival films while he was developing his technique, cutting and sticking existing film to make new ones.
How the Kuleshov Effect Works in Film
1. Influencing Emotions
As we’ve seen, film-makers can manipulate the emotions of an audience through the Kuleshov Effect’s strategic placing of images. This intensifies the emotional impact of the narrative, and hopefully that creates a deeper connection between the viewer and the story.
2. Developing a Narrative
If we agree that film-making is about telling stories, then the Kuleshov Effect can play a strong role in shaping the narrative, by transitioning between shots and establishing clear visual relationships. If done well, this kind of storytelling keeps viewers engaged and also helps them better understand and appreciate the narrative.
3. Subtext and Theme
One of the most powerful aspects of the Kuleshov Effect is its ability to communicate subtext and thematic depth without relying on literal explanations. The aligning of seemingly unrelated images can convey underlying themes, motifs, and even character dynamics with a little more subtlety and nuance, which can mean richer, more layered storytelling.
4. Driving Visual and Emotional Pacing
Effective pacing is really important if you're looking to keep an audience invested and/or want to build tension through a film. The Kuleshov experiment can help set the pace to suit the tone and intensity of each scene, that could be rapid-fire editing to heighten suspense, or more leisurely montages for nostalgia, and so on.
5. Helping Creativity
Beyond any practical applications the Kuleshov Effect has, it encourages people to think creatively and about how they can push the boundaries of the usual storytelling conventions in film. By experimenting with different editing techniques and exploring new ways to nudge viewer perception in a particular direction, we can see fresher, more innovative cinema.
Kuleshov Effect Examples by Directors
1. Alfred Hitchco*ck
Kuleshov Effect Example: Psycho (1960)
Hitchco*ck was a fan of using the Kuleshov Effect in his films, and the shower scene in Psycho is a well known example of that. He cuts between shots of the attacker’s knife and Marion Crane's terrified face, creating tension and fear through the sequence. Hitchco*ck intensifies the horror without overtly needing to show what’s happening in graphic detail.
2. Francis Ford Coppola
Kuleshov Effect Example:The Godfather (1972)
In the baptism scene of The Godfather, Michael Corleone has the heads of other families murdered. The scene plays out with Michael's stoic expression in the church (which makes us think of calm and peace) interspersed with shots of violence and mayhem as the murders take place elsewhere. This reinforces Michael turning away from his previous morality, towards a criminal, ‘darker’ life and underpins the moral ambiguity in the film.
3. Christopher Nolan
Kuleshov Effect Example: Inception (2010)
Inception uses the Kuleshov Effect quite a bit, particularly during the dream heist sequences. In the example of that above, we see intercutting shots of Elliot Page with the surreal ‘explosions’ of the dream world; the character’s first experience of it. By doing this, Nolan creates a sense of disorientation and suspense, helping to blur lines between reality and fantasy, and it’s a technique he’s included in quite a few of his movies.
4. Steven Spielberg
Kuleshov Effect Example: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Like Hitchco*ck and Nolan, Spielberg is a director who favours the Kuleshov Effect in films, and you can see it in E.T, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters, and more, though he does often deviate slightly from the true version of the technique. Rather than a plain point of view, Spielberg will focus on a character reacting to something and move the camera in towards them. In ET, one scene that uses the Kuleshov Effect is the bicycle chase, where the kids are running from the authorities and Spielberg cuts between shots of furious peddling, and their determined expressions.
5. Quentin Tarantino
Kuleshov Effect Example: Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino uses the Kuleshov Effect in film to create a sense of rapport with his characters. In the famous ‘Royale with cheese’ scene from Pulp Fiction, Vega and Winnfield discuss the differences between American and European culture and Tarantino cuts between shots of the two, and their conversation, to establish the dynamics of their relationship.
Tips for Using the Kuleshov Effect in Your Film
1. Establish Clear Context
Your shots need to provide sufficient context to guide your viewer and nudge their emotions to the right place, so clarity is really important. Try to avoid any confusion... unless that's your aim!
2. Contrasting ideas
Contrasting ideas can affect the mood of your shot juxtaposition, so experiment with changes in tone to evoke contrasting emotions – think comparisons of light and dark, happiness and sadness, chaos and peace… you get the idea.
3. Editing Styles
Experiment with pacing, rhythm, and sequence to help create something that’s engaging and dynamic. You can also try changing sound and visual effects too!
4. Avoid Overuse
It’s a cool technique, but be sure you have something to say with it before you use it, don’t just pop it in there for the sake of it. Whatever you choose to show using the Kuleshov Effect should still fit with your style, serve a purpose, and fit with the overarching narrative.
5. Be Inspired, but Don’t Copy
We all get inspired by our favourite directors and their techniques, but use that inspiration to create your own unique version of the Kuleshov Technique rather than just a shot-for-shot copy with your own characters.
How Does the Kuleshov Effect Compare to Other Editing Techniques?
Soviet Montage
I mentioned that the Kuleshov Effect is sometimes referred to as Soviet Montage, but though they’re very closely related, they’re actually different things. Soviet Montage tends to emphasise symbolic associations between images being juxtaposed, whereas the Kuleshov Technique is more about the psychological impact of the sequential editing, so a focus on influencing emotions.
Continuity Editing
You’ll know continuity editing is used a lot in Hollywood, and it prioritises seamless transitions between shots to keep the narrative understood and simple. In contrast, the Kuleshov Effect sometimes intentionally disrupts continuity by putting together disparate imagery – think of The Godfather example with the contrasts between calm and peace, and chaos and murder.
Parallel Editing
Parallel editing is cutting between multiple simultaneous actions or storylines to create tension or suspense. In some ways, that’s similar to the Kuleshov Effect in terms of editing ‘rhythm’ but its main aim is to show events happening at the same time in different places (or contexts) rather than a focus on emotional manipulation.
Innovation
We know Spielberg and other directors are influenced by Kuleshov and are putting their own, more modern twist on it, but there are other advancements that have shaped how it’s used, too. Advancements in sound and colour have influenced the modern Kuleshov Effect, for example sound plays a crucial role in boosting the impact of the shots, and of course colour grading, or other visual effects (including CGI) can do that also.
Conclusion: The Kuleshov Effect in Film
The Kuleshov Experiment really shows the power of editing when it comes to visual storytelling, and it's one that's standing the test of time, with renowned and established Hollywood directors still using it, or being influenced by it, in their own work.
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About This Page
This page was written by Marie Gardiner. Marie is a writer, author, and photographer. It was edited by Gonzalo Angulo. Gonzalo is an editor, writer and illustrator.
