"Neither Heaven nor Earth could keep them apart!"
A Matter of Life and Death - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
The Stairway to Heaven
A connection between the mortal world and the afterlife, representing the transition between states of being. Its massive, mechanical nature emphasizes the bureaucracy of the Other World.
The iconic, colossal escalator (nicknamed 'Ethel') that carries souls upward, lined with statues of historical figures.
Technicolor vs. Black and White
A reversal of the Wizard of Oz trope: here, the fantasy world (Heaven) is monochrome, symbolizing lack of life and blood, while reality (Earth) is saturated in color, symbolizing vitality and passion.
Conductor 71 remarks, 'One is starved for Technicolor up there,' explicitly acknowledging the visual dichotomy.
The Rose
The tangible proof of love and life's fragility. It collects a tear, which becomes the weight of evidence needed to tip the scales of justice.
In the final trial, a tear shed by June on a rose petal is collected and used as the decisive evidence of her love.
Fried Onions
A symptom of Peter's brain injury (olfactory hallucination), anchoring the fantasy in medical science.
Peter smells fried onions before his visions of the Other World begin, a medically accurate detail of certain brain traumas.
The Chess Game
Strategy, intellect, and the interplay between life and death. It also serves as a bridge object between the two worlds.
Conductor 71 borrows a chess book from Dr. Reeves, and Peter later finds it, suggesting the visitor was real.
Philosophical Questions
Is Love a valid exception to the Law?
The film asks if universal rules should be absolute or if the unique quality of human emotion (love) creates a 'higher law' that deserves exemption.
What is the nature of reality?
By blurring the lines between a dying brain's firing neurons and a celestial courtroom, the film questions whether 'reality' is merely what we perceive, regardless of its source.
Core Meaning
At its heart, the film is a profound affirmation of life and the transcendent power of love. Powell and Pressburger crafted a narrative where love is not just an emotion but a cosmic force capable of altering the rules of the universe. Additionally, the film served as a sophisticated artistic effort to strengthen Anglo-American relations post-war, using the romance between a British pilot and an American WAC to symbolize the unity between the two nations.