2013 Post 1 - Researching Existing Short Films Part A

This post is a textual analysis of a short film by looking at the use of camera, sound, editing and mise-en-scene within the movie.

Camera: Throughout the majority of the film, the camera level is equal to the height of the first young girl we see in the film, implying the film is from her point of view, perhaps a memory of hers. This memory like feel to the film is reinforced by the use of a shallow depth of field when being filmed, making alot in view out of focus. To emphasise important moments in the film, extreme close ups have been used to help the audience identify with the emotion of the character.  

Editing: In terms of the editing, there are quite a few jumps in the film, giving the impression of time passing. This may suggest that the girls memories are unclear, a notion emphasised by the addition of a vignette when the girl is walking along the abandoned railway lines. To emphasise important moments in the film, such as the dad feeling the other woman's hair and noticing the other girl sitting on his lap, the film has been put into slow motion.

Mise-en-scene: The film is set in a very run down industrial city in scotland, through the use of props and set it can be asumed that the film is set in the 70's.

Sound: In the film, the idea that the film is the childs memory is reinforced by making the adult's conversation unclear. Whilt christmas music is played to help set a context for the film; christmas time.