Stockholm: Prop design

Overview of Prop Design in Stockholm

The focal objects used as props in Stockholm are intentionally minimal and multi-purpose, further emphasizing the claustrophobic domestic environment.

The table symbolises the couple’s pretence of a normal domestic life. As well as being a mundane day-to-day item, it’s also the setting for their anniversary dinner - a classic scene of a couple in love.
The bottle of wine and wine glasses further portray the illusion of a traditional romantic dinner, but the alcohol connotations reflect the intoxicating toxicity of their relationship.
The bathtub itself represents a point of emotional and physical intimacy, however, when filled with water it becomes a visualization of Todd’s recurring nightmare about drowning Kali.
The bed is another intimate object, which serves as a playground for both love and abuse. The pillow becomes prominent in relation with Todd’s ‘murder’ game, reflecting the deadly undertone of their relationship.
The multi-functional usage of the few props, such as preparing their dinner on the bathtub instead of a table, reflects the couple’s intermingled sense of reality and fantasy.

The transformation and manipulation of props can dramatically snap the narrative in and out of the dreamlike sequences, conveying the blur between the couple’s reality and their emotional states.
Movement of props manipulates the audience’s focus and creates visual shifts, thus aiding scene transitions and indicating a passage of time.

The way the characters interact with the props provides additional insight into their personalities and their dynamic.
Kali and Todd’s physicality with the props heightens the emotional intensity of their relationship, highlighting moments of tenderness, violence and fear.

The prop manipulation invites the audience to perceive the domestic items from a completely new perspective, creating an intense unease.
The ultimate destruction of the props in the end, like the broken wine bottle, serve as a visual representation of the damaged and destructive relationship, evoking a strong emotional response in the audience.