X

Visual symbols in film are always present. Those that foretell the future of the characters within their story can be very obvious or very subtle.  Since teaching film theory classes at the college, I've researched and discovered many new visual symbols within classic and modern films. Often they can only be discovered upon a second or third viewing.  Sometime the animation students approach me with some discoveries...

For example, here Scorsese paid homage to Howard Hawks' classic 1932 Scarface, in his film The Departed. Scorsese scattered Xs throughout the movie (some more subtle than others), using them as a symbol of impending doom. In the case of both films, they foreshadow the death (or attempted murder) of a major character. See samples below, first from The Departed, then Scarface (in black & white).