Shot-Reverse-Shot (Technique)

Shot reverse shot is a film technique in which shots are edited together that alternate characters, this may be during a conversation. If this technique is used during a conversation between two characters, the viewer will assume that the characters are looking directly at each other as they are often shown facing in opposite directions.

 










 










 










 




















Above are screenshots from a sequence from the film, The Stendhal Syndrome. The director has the woman looking at the painting on the wall. However the shot and reverse shot make it seem as if the painting is staring back at the character as their eyelines match and they  have roughly the same position on the screen.