A Thousand Stars: Episode II, Part 25

Following Watto's information, Anakin and Padmé end up at a homestead that's very familiar to us. We get a nice wide shot, and then we follow them going down the stairs with a pan down.




But while these scenes might evoke a cozy feeling for the audience, Anakin is filled with misgivings. He doesn't know these people, aside from the fact that his mother ended up in terrible distress after coming here.




What could have been a happy family reunion is instead rife with tragic uncertainty. I appreciate that Lucas, when using the original homestead set (which was still mostly intact in Tunisia after 20+ years!) didn't just fall back on winking, heavy-handed references to play on the viewers' nostalgia. The tone isn't pandering; it's serious and provides crucial elements to move the plot forward and inform Anakin's characterization. If it evokes anything from Episode IV, it's the moment when Luke finds the homestead burned and his beloved foster parents lost forever.

On that cheerful note, get ready for more foreboding images next time....