Cinematographer Greig Fraser recently broke down the sandworm riding scene inDune: Part Two. The scene in which Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) rides a sandworm is perhaps the most iconic in the movie andone of the most memorable cinematic moments in recent years.Dune 2’sdirector, Denis Villeneuve, and Fraser have been praised for crafting such an engaging cinematic sequence, which is one of the most important scenes for the movie’s story and Paul’s character development.
In a recent interview withVariety, Fraser, who is also known for his work onThe BatmanandThe Mandalorian, recently spoke aboutDune: Part Two’ssandworm riding sequence. The cinematographer explained how he and his team settled on specific camera movements and lighting decisions while filming the sequence. He also revealed thatthey referenced avalanche and surfing videos as inspiration for the sandworm riding scene. Read Fraser’s full quotes below:
The camera has a little more movement, it’s more handheld, it feels a little bit more emotional. But then we cut back to Paul, and a lot of Paul’s work is a lot more still. It’s him trying to meditate and become one with the worm to try and make sure he rides this thing properly.
In the film world, we can cheat where the director of daylight comes from on actors. You’ll watch a film, and you’ll rarely see somebody front-lit. You’ll mostly see people backlight, which is a little bit magical, but we do it and we get away with it. For this, it was important that the sun came from one direction, and it’s very clear where the sun comes from because you have a lit side of the sand dune and a shadow side which means that we could not chat this placement.
We looked quite extensively at avalanche videos, surf videos. We tried to see what it would be like when Paul was literally under the water, but in this case, sand.
Why The Sandworm Riding Scene Is So Important In Dune: Part Two
Sandworms Are Viewed By Fremen As Gods InDuneLore
Dune: Part Twopicks up where the firstfilm ended and sees Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), traveling with the Fremen. However, since Paul comes from one ofDune’sroyal houses, the Fremen people do not immediately trust him, nor do they believe he can acclimate to their way of life. As the story ofDune 2progresses, rumors circulate that Paul could be Lisan al Gaib, whom the Fremen consider a messiah figure. This allows him to gain the trust of some Fremen but leads others to be very wary of him.
Dune 2: Why Chani Really Doesn’t Want Paul To Lead The Fremen Explained
Toward the end of Dune: Part Two, Chani clearly doesn’t want Paul to lead the Fremen, leaving many viewers to wonder why, exactly, she’s against him.
Paul ends up growing closer to Chani (Zendaya) and Stilgar (Javier Bardem). From them, he knows that successfully riding a sandworm is an important step he must take to be accepted by everyone else. In the worm riding sequence,Paul manages to ride a grandfather sandworm, which is a crucial step he takes to become a leader among the Fremen. Therefore,Dune 2’ssandworm riding sequence is so important because it convinces almost everyFremen to view him as Lisan al Gaib, which drives his character arc forward in the film.
Our Take On Dune: Part Two’s Sandworm Riding Sequence
The Sandworm Sequence Became One Of The Most Iconic Film Scenes
Fraser shot the pivotal sandworm riding scene in a way that ensured it would be remembered for years. As mentioned, the scene was instantly recognized as one of the most iconic fromDune 2, and it is not a stretch to view it asone of the best movie scenes in years. Therefore, the sandworm riding sequence is just one example of many scenes that prove whyDune: Part Twois such a special cinematic achievement.
Dune: Part Two
Cast
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family’s devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe’s future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
