The World Falls Away: Tony and Maria Meet
In a colorful film such as West Side Story, the audience is inundated with the color wheel. This makes the meeting of Maria and Tony all the more impactful, as, for a temporary moment, the film loses its color to emphasize their connection. As author Lauren Davine describes in her work ""Could We Not Dye It Red At Least?": Color and Race in West Side Story", color is used to delineate between races and ethnic groups in the film. The palettes for the Jets and Sharks are intentional, separating the two groups subliminally and visually. This brings us to the meeting of Tony and Maria, situated right after a bombastic, colorful dance sequence between the Jets and Sharks. When these two finally connect, the background goes black around them. Now, one could attribute this to some cosmic meaning (fate, perhaps), but in a film where color is so vital, this is a striking choice. When the color around them dissolves, the racial barriers do as well. The subliminal color messaging being given to the audience ceases for a slim moment. Suddenly, the only thing that matters is their own love. We are forced to contend with their connection, despite whatever distractions the movie presents or what biases we carry into the film. While color is a critical tool for filmmakers, perhaps in such beautiful moments like these, it is best to let the moment stand on its own.