f-evidence Artifact: Esther Coleman By Wen-hao Zeng September 11, 201
Mar 29, 2015
Self-evidence Artifact:
Esther Coleman
By Wen-hao ZengSeptember 11, 2010
Background:
Esther Coleman is a fictional character in the American
horror movie Orphan. As the protagonist, Esther Coleman
pushes the story forward by completing her plan and revealing
her identity.
Background:
-The poster of Orphan.
-Esther’s portrait occupied the whole poster. -Esther stares forward with her empty eyes, exerting pressure on the audience.
-Unusual dress emphasizes “there’s something wrong with Esther”.
-Dark green background color enhance the horror aura that Esther brings.
Picture from orphan official site.
Background: (story introduction)
Quote:
“Kate Coleman and her husband John are experiencing
strains in their marriage after Kate's third child was stillborn.
They adopt Esther, a 9-year-old Russian girl, from the local
orphanage. While Kate and John's deaf daughter Max
embraces Esther, their son Daniel is less welcoming.”
Quoted from Wikipedia
Stage1: Alienating Kate:
Evidence1: Invading Private life
As the first step of Esther’s plan, alienating her adopted
mother, Kate, brings Esther advantage to totally remove Kate
later.
Esther peeks into the private life of her adopt parents in
late night. Kate recognizes the issue, and tries to talk with
Esther. During the talk, Kate learns Esther has far more
knowledge about sex than a nine-year-old girl should have.
Stage1: Alienating Kate:
Quote:
Kate: “When grown-ups love each other very very much, they
want to show each other the love, they want to express it…”
Esther: “I know, they (the ‘f’ word)”.
Quoted from Orphan
Stage1: Alienating Kate:
In this quote, Esther shows her unusual adult
knowledge. Her tone suggests that she knows the original
meaning of “the ‘f’ word”. She doesn’t take the word as an
impolite swear, but a explicit expression of what Kate is trying
to say.
Esther’s identity as a young girl is questioned.
Stage1: Alienating Kate:
After the conversation, Kate expresses her worry.
Stage1: Alienating Kate:
Identities revealed in this stage:
-Esther abnormally wish to break the relationship with her
adopted mother.
-Esther is more mature than she looks like.
Stage2: Controlling Max:
Evidence 2: The Threat
Esther brutally murders the head of the orphanage with a
hammer. However, Max, Esther’s adopted sister, sees the murder
scene. Esther takes control of Max by threatening her.
Esther sets up a scene to force Kate park her car on a hill.
Esther leaves the car and Max is alone by herself in the back
seat. Esther subsequently releases the hand break of the car and
let it run down the hill.
Stage2: Controlling Max:
Esther releases the hand break and
shifts gears to neutral.
Max is in panic while the car
slides down the hill.
Pictures from Orphan
Stage2: Controlling Max:
A red car from the back almost
crush into Kate’s car.
The snow pile stops the car and
Max survived.
Pictures from Orphan
Stage2: Controlling Max:
Identities revealed in this stage:
-Esther is a ruthless murderer.
-Esther plans her schemes in a sophisticated manner, which can
hardly be the work of a child.
Stage3: Removing Obstacles:
Evidence 3:
Esther provokes Kate by insulting Kate’s stillborn child.
As Esther plans, Kate runs towards Esther with rage. Calling for
her adopted father’s help, Esther proclaims Kate hurts her arm
badly.
To further discredit Kate, Esther breaks her arm with a
clamp in silence.
Stage3: Removing Obstacles:
Esther calls for John’s help once
Kate holds Esther’s arm.
Esther continues her scheme by
breaking her arm.
Pictures from Orphan
Stage3: Removing Obstacles:
Evidence 4:
With the help of Max, Daniel finds the evidence of the
murder in his tree house. However, Esther already planned ahead
to prevent Daniel from revealing her secrets. She ignites the tree
house together with the evidence and locks the house from
outside. Although Daniel manages to jump out of the burning
tree house, he fell to the ground unconsciously.
Stage3: Removing Obstacles:
The tree house burns with the
evidence inside.
Esther is pleased with her work.
Pictures from Orphan
Stage3: Removing Obstacles:
Identities revealed in this stage:
-Esther is willing to make intense sacrifices for her scheme. Such
abnormal dedication is not likely to be found in a child.
-Esther’s ruthless actions betray that she has lost the innocence
that a child should have.
Stage4: Attempting Adult Love:
Stage4: Attempting Adult Love:
Evidence 5: Seducing John
Kate discovers the true identity of Esther: Esther is
actually a 33-year-old woman named Leena Klammer. Her
youthful look is due to a rare disease called hypopituitarism,
which stunts her physical growth.
Esther’s scheme is to exclude John’s family members, so
that she can seduce John.
Stage4: Attempting Adult Love:
Esther applies heavy makeup on
her face in order to seduce John,
her adopted father.
Wearing black dress and high-heel
shoes, Esther lies on the couch
seductively.
Pictures from Orphan
Stage4: Attempting Adult Love:
In this quote, Esther exposes her desire without
reservation. She needs John to love her as a husband, instead of a
father. All her lies, her plans and her sacrifices are for the
seduction. Esther is driven by the thirst for adult love.
Stage4: Attempting Twisted Love:
Esther’s True Identity:
A ruthless, scheming and mature woman that is willing to use
any means to acquire adult love from a father.
Sources:
-Orphan, Jaume Collet-Serra, 2009
-Orphan,Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan_%
28film%29, September 25, 2010
-Orphan offical website: http://orphan-movie.warnerbros.com/,
September 25, 2010
Thank
you!