I am Salik Waquas, a filmmaker and full-time colorist, passionately committed to unraveling the nuances of visual storytelling. My journey in the post-production industry has been shaped by my work at my color grading suite, Color Culture. As someone deeply invested in cinematography and its intricate layers, I find myself compelled to delve into Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s groundbreaking work in The Revenant. What follows is my personal analysis of the cinematography in this masterpiece—a film that is as visually raw as it is emotionally profound.
Cinematography Analysis Of The Revenant
About the Cinematographer
Emmanuel Lubezki, known affectionately as “Chivo,” is a name synonymous with innovation in visual storytelling. As one of the most decorated cinematographers in film history, his work stands as a testament to the power of immersive imagery. His mastery earned him three consecutive Academy Awards—for Gravity, Birdman, and The Revenant. With The Revenant, Lubezki achieved what many thought impossible: a film almost entirely shot using natural light in unforgiving conditions, pushing the boundaries of what we perceive as cinematic realism.
For me, what sets Lubezki apart is his ability to use the camera as an emotional tool. He doesn’t merely capture; he immerses. His work on The Revenant stands out because it aligns perfectly with Alejandro González Iñárritu’s ambitious narrative—a brutal, almost primal tale of survival. Together, they crafted a visual language that resonates deeply with the audience, making you feel every ounce of the cold, the struggle, and the unrelenting nature of wilderness.
Inspiration for the Cinematography of The Revenant
The visual inspiration for The Revenant is rooted in the raw beauty of the wilderness and the brutality of survival. Lubezki’s approach was grounded in authenticity. As I watched, I could see the painterly influence in his framing, reminiscent of 19th-century Romantic landscapes. Each frame felt like it had a soul, a story, and a purpose.
Lubezki’s decision to use natural light was, in my opinion, a stroke of genius. By avoiding artificial light, he allowed the film to breathe, becoming one with its environment. This wasn’t just cinematography; it was storytelling through nature. Lubezki’s visuals reminded me of the documentary A World Unseen, where the socio-political undercurrents of the narrative are tied directly to its visual presentation. These inspirations made the cinematography feel not just authentic but deeply resonant with the film’s themes.
Camera Movements Used in The Revenant
For a filmmaker like me, camera movement is storytelling in motion, and in The Revenant, it becomes almost a character. Lubezki’s use of wide-angle lenses in handheld shots was instrumental in creating an immersive experience. The way the camera moves, almost breathing with the characters, left me in awe.
The bear attack scene—arguably one of the most discussed sequences in cinema—exemplifies this perfectly. The unbroken take plunges you into Glass’s ordeal. Without the relief of a cut, you feel trapped, helpless, and vulnerable alongside him. The dynamic yet deliberate camera work mirrors the chaos and emotional intensity of Glass’s journey. As a filmmaker, this use of long takes and fluid camera motion inspires me to explore similar techniques in my own projects.
Compositions in The Revenant
What struck me most about the compositions in The Revenant was their ability to juxtapose the vastness of nature with human fragility. Lubezki often placed characters in the lower third of the frame, dwarfed by towering mountains, dense forests, or expansive skies. This visual language speaks volumes about the film’s themes—man’s insignificance in the face of nature’s grandeur.
The interplay of foreground and background elements, such as branches obscuring characters or rivers cutting through the frame, adds layers to the compositions. These choices make each scene visually rich, almost tactile. As someone who loves analyzing frame construction, I couldn’t help but marvel at how Lubezki’s compositions drew me deeper into Glass’s internal and external battles.
Lighting Style of The Revenant
The decision to shoot with natural light is both a logistical nightmare and a creative triumph. Lubezki’s commitment to this choice shows in every frame, with light becoming more than an aesthetic tool—it’s a narrative device. To achieve this, the team had to work around the “magic hour,” those fleeting moments of soft, golden light at dawn and dusk. This meticulous planning resulted in visuals that are raw and unfiltered.
To me, the unpredictability of natural light added a layer of authenticity that no artificial setup could replicate. Scenes illuminated by firelight—flickering and imperfect—evoke a primal connection to humanity’s origins. The subtle use of negative fill to control contrast ensures the subjects are always compelling against their rugged backdrop. It’s the kind of lighting work that reminds me why I became a filmmaker in the first place.
Lensing and Blocking of The Revenant
Wide-angle lenses are a staple of Lubezki’s work, but in The Revenant, they achieve something extraordinary. By using Arri Prime 65 lenses on the Alexa 65 camera, Lubezki created images that were both expansive and intimate. The wide field of view places the viewer in the environment, allowing them to experience every breath of the wind and every crunch of snow.
Blocking in the film is equally remarkable. The characters’ movement within the natural spaces feels organic yet intentional. The camera doesn’t just observe—it follows, anticipates, and reacts. This dynamic interplay between blocking and lensing ensures the audience is not just watching a film but living it. As a filmmaker, these techniques encourage me to rethink how I choreograph scenes in my own work.
Color Grading of The Revenant
Color grading in The Revenant is subtle but profound. The muted blues and greys dominate, painting a cold, unrelenting atmosphere. This is offset by the occasional warmth of firelight, symbolizing fleeting moments of survival and humanity. As a colorist, I appreciate the restraint in the grading process. Instead of imposing a stylized look, Lubezki and his team preserved the natural hues captured on set.
This approach resonates deeply with me. It reminds me that sometimes less is more, and the raw, unembellished beauty of nature can be the most powerful storytelling tool.
Technical Aspects of The Revenant
Technically, The Revenant is a marvel. The choice of the Alexa 65 camera with its large-format sensor allowed Lubezki to capture the vast landscapes with unparalleled clarity. The Red Epic Dragon added flexibility for aerial shots, while the modified Alexa M enabled handheld shooting in challenging conditions. This arsenal of technology, combined with Lubezki’s ingenuity, created a film that feels as much an achievement of engineering as it is of artistry.
For me, the technical side of filmmaking is where creativity meets problem-solving. The innovations employed in The Revenant push me to explore new tools and techniques in my projects, reminding me of the endless possibilities cinema offers.