Reflections of PoA (Spoilers)

[nicholas at adelanta.co.uk]

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I mentioned in a previous post the various 'reflections' shots in the
movie. Having now seen it again, I can compile a list. I found five such
shots, enough to make it a motif in the movie.

-On the train, after the Dementor incident, Harry stares at his reflection
in the window

-During the first flight on Buckbeak, Harry sees his reflection in the water.

-In the DADA class with the Boggart, the scene ends with Harry staring at
his reflection in the cupboard door.

-In the nighttime encounter in the corridor with Snape and Lupin, Harry
makes himself jump when he catches his own reflection in a mirror.

The four incidents foreshadow the most important 'mirror-image' scene, when
Harry comes face to face across the lake with his time-travelling
counterpart...the final reflection of the movie.

A couple of thoughts as a result of this; only one other motif occurs in
the movie with greater frequency; time. From the cuckoo clock at the
Dursleys' house and the book in the Leaky Cauldron (Yes, indeed it is 'A
Brief History of Time'), we are absolutely battered by that imagery.

Maybe one or other of these is what gave JKR 'goosebumps' when she saw the
film. Perhaps in HP6, Harry is going to be time-travelling again, and he
will come face-to-face with himself, and this time he will know from the
start what has happened. The golden rule in time travel is not to be seen;
but we are told again and again that Harry breaks the rules.

Good for Cuaron for incorporating these motifs. But unfortunate that other
missing parts of the storyline couldn't be touched on as subtly and
effectively.

Cheers,
Nicholas
And for the person who missed the ticking clock; it starts when the
time-turner spins.