Fargo is a 1996 film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The Coen brothers play with many different themes in this film which includes greed. Greed is intense selfish desire for something, especially food, wealth or power. The directors use different film techniques to show greed. The relationship of low angle, eye level and high angle camera shot help to portray the theme of greed.

Jerry is shown from a low camera angle when he first meets the hitmen in the opening bar scene. The position of a low camera angle makes the character appear larger than they really are which results in the other characters to look smaller in comparison. This is used to show dominance over the other characters. Since Jerry is the one coming to them with a proposition to make money, he is seen to be in charge over the other characters and has more power over them which is shown through a low camera angle. Since he is standing up when initially talking to them he asserts more dominance onto the characters. The low camera angle links to the theme of greed as it portrays Jerry Jundergaard as more possessive over the other characters. The camera angle is only slightly below his line of sight which means that although he is more dominant than the other characters, he is not as strong and powerful as first perceived. The low camera angle also allows the audience to see more of his facial expressions as he is seen determined and tough when he approaches the kidnappers as he is not smiling and has a frowning or neutral face. This links to the theme of greed as he does not know at that moment if they are the people that he was there to meet and whom Shep vouched for. In this scene, the audience is not told specifically what Jerry Lundergaard need the money for and why he was being so greedy. This links to the theme of greed as he is willing to create a dangerous and lucrative plan that the hitmen are even confused about.

In the opening scene, the hitmen are first seen in a high camera angle.  This then changes when Jerry sits down at the table to an eye-level camera shot. An eye-level shot shows the characters as being equal since one does not appear to be larger or smaller than the other. The audience sees the characters from their perspective and makes them feel more comfortable since there is no battle for dominance. Eye-level shots stimulate normal human vision for the audience and therefore presents information through a familiar viewpoint. Both characters are shown from a neutral camera angle which links to the theme of greed as they are both as greedy for money as each other. The directors did this because both characters would get an equal amount of the ransom money as each other. Carl’s greed made him disregard Jerry’s mysterious motivations for kidnapping his wife and overlook Jerry’s character overall. He could have seen that he is a fragile character and not as strong as first perceived if he took the time to look into it closer. Greed changed Carl’s perception of the situation and made him not back out of a failed plan that ended his life.

In the scene where Wade and Carl exchange the ransom money, a high camera angle is used. Originally both characters are shown in an eye-level camera angle but it changes when Carl shoots Wade in order to get the cash since he was not cooperating. A high camera angle is used to show a characters vulnerability and emphasis danger in a scene. The high camera angle makes the audience feel uneasy as the character appears to be weak and small. The shift between angles shows how he has been physically damaged and appears to be smaller than Carl. The high camera angle links to the theme of greed as since Wade is shot and in danger for his life he is no longer worrying about the ransom money or his daughter, instead of trying to fight to stay alive. It is used to show that the greedy, Carl, has put money above a person’s life. The high camera angle is also used to show that Wade is less dominant in this situation since Carl took the first shot.

The Coen Brothers use low, eye level and high camera angles to portray the theme of Greed throughout the film. The positioning of the camera can make characters seem more superior or inferior and cause the audience to become uneasy. The director’s purpose for the theme of greed is to show how money can not win you everything and being too greedy results in large consequences. Since Jerry was too greedy he lost his wife, son, father in law and his freedom and Carl resulted in losing his life over “a little money.” This relates to the real world in which people purposely commit crimes without looking at the consequences. Greed can control people and ruin lives so the director’s purpose is to stop people wasting away their freedom for a bit of cash.