What filmmaking techniques does A Rainy Day in New York use?

CineCode breaks down 5 techniques in A Rainy Day in New York (2019): Fish-Out-of-Water Comedy, Amber Color Grading, Paired Couple Structure, Weather as Emotional Mirror and Vintage Recording Score.

Who directed A Rainy Day in New York?

Woody Allen directed A Rainy Day in New York, released in 2019. CineCode also covers Take the Money and Run (1969), Bananas (1971), Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask (1972), Sleeper (1973), Love and Death (1975), Annie Hall (1977).

What films are similar to A Rainy Day in New York?

Films that share techniques with A Rainy Day in New York include Sleeper (1973), Back to the Future (1985), Gladiator (2000), Prisoners (2013).

Comedy · Romance

A Rainy Day in New York

Woody Allen, 2019

Gatsby, a student from a rich family, takes his girlfriend Ashleigh to Manhattan for a romantic weekend. She is there to interview a film director, and the day pulls the two of them apart. Watch how the film sends each half of the couple on a separate adventure and lets the weather set the mood.

2 Narrative 2 Cinematography 1 Sound

At a glance

A Rainy Day in New York is a 2019 comedy and romance film directed by Woody Allen. This breakdown covers 5 techniques (2 narrative, 2 cinematography and 1 sound), each with the scene where you can see it. If you like how it is made, Sleeper uses several of the same techniques.

Narrative

Fish-Out-of-Water Comedy

Dropping a character into a world whose social rules they don't understand. The comedy, and some insight too, comes from the constant mismatch between them and everyone around them.

How this film uses it

Ashleigh arrives from a small college to interview a famous director and quickly gets swept into the film crowd, from his screenwriter to a movie star. She does not know the rules of that world, and the comedy comes from how far each person gets carried off. You laugh at the mismatch and at where it leads her.

Where to see it

Ashleigh's interview day: she goes from the director to his screenwriter to dinner with the star Francisco Vega, and ends up at his apartment.

Cinematography

Amber Color Grading

Tinting the image in warm amber, gold or orange. Depending on the film, the glow can feel nostalgic and old-world or sickly, as if home comforts are under threat.

How this film uses it

Reviewers describe Vittorio Storaro filling the frame with golden light and silver rain. The warm glow makes the city feel like a romantic daydream, even as the couple drifts apart. For some critics it is the best part of the film.

Where to see it

Interior and street scenes: the rooms glow amber while the rain streaks the windows and the sidewalks.

Narrative

Paired Couple Structure

Setting two couples or a divided pair against each other, so their contrasting choices expose the cracks in each relationship.

How this film uses it

Gatsby and Ashleigh spend most of the day in different places with different people. You watch each of them change their mind about the weekend before the two meet again.

Where to see it

The day in Manhattan: Gatsby spends it with Chan, while Ashleigh is with the director, the screenwriter and the star.

Cinematography

Weather as Emotional Mirror

Letting rain, storms, sunshine or changing scenery reflect what characters feel, often breaking at the story's peak. The environment says what the characters cannot.

How this film uses it

Gatsby loves the city in the rain, and the film keeps the sky gray and the streets wet around his romantic hopes. The rain gives the movie a soft, dreamy glow and sets up the final kiss.

Where to see it

The ending: Gatsby meets Chan at the Delacorte Clock in Central Park as it strikes six, and they kiss in the rain.

Sound

Vintage Recording Score

Scoring a film with existing recordings from decades past, such as jazz or popular standards, in place of newly written music. The songs set a period mood.

How this film uses it

The film uses songs by jazz pianist Erroll Garner. The lively piano music matches the light romantic comedy tone and carries the film through its New York locations.

Where to see it

Scenes around the city: Garner's piano recordings play under the characters' day in Manhattan.

Questions

A Rainy Day in New York: quick answers

What filmmaking techniques does A Rainy Day in New York use?: CineCode breaks down 5 techniques in A Rainy Day in New York (2019): Fish-Out-of-Water Comedy, Amber Color Grading, Paired Couple Structure, Weather as Emotional Mirror and Vintage Recording Score.
Who directed A Rainy Day in New York?: Woody Allen directed A Rainy Day in New York, released in 2019. CineCode also covers Take the Money and Run (1969), Bananas (1971), Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask (1972), Sleeper (1973), Love and Death (1975), Annie Hall (1977).
What films are similar to A Rainy Day in New York?: Films that share techniques with A Rainy Day in New York include Sleeper (1973), Back to the Future (1985), Gladiator (2000), Prisoners (2013).

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