Some films start trends, provoke fashion, make things and habits popular... and others give great importance to interiors and interior decoration. Here are three films in which the interiors and their decoration have helped us to better understand the times in which they were set.

Colonial style

‘Out of Africa’ is based on the memoirs of Isak Dinesen (pseudonym for Karen Blixen) and brilliantly illustrates the colonial houses of Kenya. At the beginning of the film, the furniture and other belongings travel with the main character from Denmark to Kenya. She tries to build a western home in Africa, which has no similarity to the homes of the local peasants. It serves as an example of colonial style, with the use of wood, natural fibres, suitcases, trunks, etc.

The Italian American family

‘The Godfather’ not only tells a story of mafia and power. The dark scenes are combined with the prominence given to the family. Creating the home of a typical Italian American family includes elements such as carpets, lamps or dining tables where meals play an extremely important part when the family is together. Moreover, this is combined with the style and decor of the 1940s and paints a fantastic portrait of New York City.

A supercalifragilisticexpialidocious home

‘Mary Poppins’ takes us to London in the first half of the 20th century. Mr Banks' luxurious house is in a wealthy area and is decorated in Victorian style, which is complemented with toys and other articles of the time. Mary Poppins places emphasis on surrounding herself with personal objects and, for example, hangs her magic mirror in her room as soon as she arrives at the mansion. Other objects chosen by Mary Poppins are the coat stand or the standard lamp, which give the space her own personal touch.