The Selfish Giant Analysis

In this analysis, I am going to be focusing on how and why the director creates meaning by her use of themes and micro-features: cinematography, sound, Mise-En-Scene, performance and editing.

The Selfish Giant is a 91 minute, social-realism, crime drama directed and written by Clio Barnard and produced by Tracy O’Riordan. It was produced on the 25th October, 2013 in the UK. It is based upon a novel of the same title which was written by Oscar Wilde. Clio Barnard has also directed a film called ‘The Arbor’ which was filmed in Bradford which is the same filming location as The Selfish Giant. I personally believe that this film is aimed at teenagers who are aged fifteen and above because it is very intense and we are introduced to a vulnerable world, drowning in poverty, that we may not normally see or hear about and Clio Barnard does an excellent job of displaying the brutal realities of such a world and not at any point does she shy away from showing us these realities. The film stars Conner Chapman (Arbor), Shaun Thomas (Swifty- Arbor’s best friend), Sean Gilder (Kitten- the scrap dealer the two boys meet), Rebecca Manley (Michelle ‘Shelly’ Fenton- Arbor’s Mother) and Elliott Tittensor (Martin Fenton- Arbor’s older brother). It is about two thirteen year old friends, Arbor and Swifty, both from families struggling to make a living, who come across a scrap dealer named Kitten and from there on, get involved with the dangerous life of scrap-dealing in order to provide money for their families, which, towards the end, leads to tragic consequences.

Clio Barnard

(Spoiler Alert) The film has the themes of: family, friendship, class, desperation, determination, theft, greed, anger, betrayal, jealously and survival.  Arbor is greatly dependent on his tablets that help to prevent his outbursts. The audience realise that he has to take medication when his Mother asks him “have you taken your tablet?” during an argument in which Arbor is becoming extremely angry, which suggests that he quite probably has ADHD. Family is a theme because deep down, Arbor clearly has a very close relationship with his Mother and Clio Barnard shows this by the meaningful scenes which feature them hugging and comforting one another. Also, it becomes known that Arbor and Swifty’s main priority is to earn money in order to support their financially deprived families and the audience realise this in a scene during the earlier stages of the film in which the two boys earn quite a large amount of money and instead of spending it on themselves, they plan to spend it on the electricity bill and a new sofa, which was very un-selfish of them. This therefore confirms that the title ‘The Selfish Giant’ does not refer to either of them but in fact is referring to Kitten because all he wanted was to make a large profit from the scrap the boys were collecting and he was not at all concerned about the extreme danger they were both put in. Arbor and Swifty have a very strong friendship and the audience discover this almost immediately in the opening scene in which Swifty is calming Arbor down and a close up is used to show their hands interlocked. Clio Barnard purposely used this shot to represent the tight bond between the two of them and their hands stay interlocked to show how they will always be there for one another which gives the audience false hope that they will stay together throughout the film and will not leave each other’s side. As the film develops, Swifty takes a great interest in horses and appears to be very natural when handling them whereas Arbor does not share this talent and is more interested in collecting as much scrap as possible. Kitten then begins to favour Swifty because of this, leaving Arbor feeling betrayed and jealous. There was a particular shot that stood out for me which displays these themes which is a wide shot of Kitten and Swifty standing next to one another as Arbor is stood away from them, Barnard included this shot in the film to represent how Arbor feels as if he is being torn apart from them because ‘he is not good enough’, despite how hard he tries. Arbor then becomes more and more greedy and desperate to make money and dangerously steals scrap including off Kitten himself which gets him into a large amount of trouble and he is threatened to have his hands put through the wire cutting machine. The Selfish Giant does not focus on Arbor and Swifty trying to escape from the poverty they are surrounded by, like the protagonist in ‘Fish Tank’, but it focuses on them trying to survive in such an economically demanding world.

Throughout ‘The Selfish Giant’, I noticed that there were many still, long-lasting establishing shots of the countryside which showed sheep and horses. This was an area that appeared safe and peaceful, in which the protagonists could escape to in order to be away from the rough, loud, urban environment they were forced to survive in. However, after these establishing shots, the camera would suddenly cut to the shots showing the scrap yard and the noisy, dangerous machines within it which dramatically contrasted with what the audience previously saw. I personally believe that this was to show how working in a scrap yard was extremely risky and dangerous and to emphasize how the way in which Arbor and Swifty made money to support their families was not pleasant at all. Clio Barnard may have used this contrast to clearly separate our expectations from the realities: we expect that thirteen year old boys, like Arbor and Swifty, to be attending school and living a peaceful life in which they feel safe and have a sense of belonging; these expectations are shown by the establishing shots of the countryside. However, in reality, Arbor and Swifty are constantly putting themselves into large amounts of danger in order to support their families and the only place they feel as if they ‘belong’ to may be the scrap yard in which they work in because they were excluded from school and have quite an un-settling family life. Barnard makes it clear that they do not lead the ‘ordinary’ life that is expected of them so keeps the narrative ‘real’ the whole way through to inform the audience that there are no ‘happy endings’ in such a poverty and danger-driven world. I also believe that the establishing shots were used in order for the audience to reflect on what had happened because they were usually shown after an event had occurred and Clio Barnard clearly did not want to cut straight into another ‘busy’ scene and instead wanted to give the audience thinking time. Additionally, there was foreshadowing of the ending by the use of the shots which showed the electricity wires and this was maybe to inform the audience that a key event was going to take place there although when Swifty was electrocuted when helping Arbor to steal underground cable, it was very unexpected and the audience may not have expected such a brutal ending to their friendship.

I thought that Mise-En-Scene played an important role in the film and I thought that the use of weather was very clever. Throughout the majority of the film, the weather was dull and gloomy; the days were rarely sunny, giving the impression that it was quite cold. This was to represent how the protagonists did not lead a ‘blissful’ life but the complete opposite as they were constantly surrounded by negativity. After Swifty passed away, the weather gradually got worse and Arbor is shown sitting outside Swifty’s house in the pouring rain which can have many interpretations. Firstly, Clio Barnard has made use of the rain to represent how Arbor can never have a bright or happy day again now Swifty has disappeared from his life and the rain is a symbol of Arbor’s immense sadness so he is reflecting on what has happened. Secondly, Arbor is constantly outside Swifty’s house in the rain because he feels guilty and is blaming himself entirely for his death. Another key symbol throughout the film is the horses which are often shown being used for the benefit and entertainment of others and are put into extremely dangerous situations such as horse racing on busy roads. I believe that this represents how Kitten was using Arbor and Swifty for his own benefit because he was willing to put them in large amounts of danger in order to make money for himself and to support his scrap-dealing business.

The performances were truly stunning and incredibly believable and the performance from Conner Chapman, who played Arbor, really stood out for me because he was very natural and his acting did not seem at all forced. The scenes in which he was hugging his Mother were very emotional because it showed how much he cared for her and it is almost as if he is taking on the role of a Father because he is looking after her and trying his up-most hardest to support her. My favourite scene was the one towards the end of the film in which Arbor is lying underneath the bed, just like at the beginning, but instead, his older brother is talking to him rather than Swifty. However, it then shows Swifty in the same place he was in during the opening scene because Arbor is remembering him which emphasizes how much he misses him. There is then the same close up which shows their hands interlocked but this time, they let go and Clio Barnard purposely did this to represent how Swifty has left Arbor and is no longer there for him. There was very limited dialogue during this scene and the ones that followed it because the performances and cinematography were more than enough to create meaning and it also gave the audience time to reflect on the film.

Overall, I really enjoyed ‘The Selfish Giant’ because it was gritty, realistic and kept me gripped the whole way through. The narrative was strong, believable and reached a dramatic and unexpected climax at the end. The micro-features within the film were outstanding and I believe that Clio Barnard has created a fantastic and meaningful piece of work. 

The Selfish Giant Analysis- First 10 Minutes

The Selfish Giant is a 91 minute, social-realism, crime drama directed and written by Clio Barnard and produced by Tracy O’Riordan. It was produced on the 25^th October, 2013 in the UK. The ten minute extract of the opening scene stars Conner Chapman (Arbor), Shaun Thomas (Swifty- Arbor’s best friend), Sean Gilder (Kitten- the scrap dealer the two boys meet), Rebecca Manley (Michelle ‘Shelly’ Fenton- Arbor’s Mother) and Elliott Tittensor (Martin Fenton- Arbor’s older brother).

The extract is about two thirteen year old friends named Arbor and Swifty who, on one late night, discover a scrap dealer named Kitten after stealing a cable of wire from two men on a train track. The extract mainly focuses on the relationship between Arbor and Swifty and also the relationship between Arbor and his Mother and older brother, Martin meaning the audience is able to gain an understanding of his home life as well as his personality. The themes of: family, friendship, hate, conflict, anger, dependence, class and crime are expressed within this extract. The theme of family is displayed because the audience are able to discover more about the argumentative relationship Arbor has with his Mother and Martin and it is clear that they do not get on very well, possibly because the Mother is struggling to raise them both in a working class environment. Friendship is shown between Arbor and Swifty and Swifty has the ability to easily calm Arbor down when he is having one of his rages which shows that he must have known him for quite a long time as Arbor will generally follow what he tells him, emphasizing the trust between them. In a way, Arbor is dependent on Swifty in order to keep him under control however; he is also greatly dependent on his tablets that help to prevent his outbursts. The audience realise that he has to take tablets when the Mother asks him “have you taken your tablet?” during an argument in which Arbor is becoming extremely angry, this also suggests that he has serious anger problems and possibly ADHD. Crime is a major theme because Arbor and Swifty have to live in an environment that is surrounded by crimes such as scrap dealing and they cannot help but find themselves intertwined with this crime in order to provide much-needed money for the family.

The Mise-En-Scene within this extract was very effective and it gave the audience a clear idea on the environment Arbor had to live in. The scene set in the kitchen showed a room which was extremely cramped and of a low value, without fancy and modern-looking utensils and with only the basics such as a washing machine and a kettle. This emphasizes the fact that they are working class because it shows their poor living conditions and quality of life. Arbor and Swifty were shown riding on a horse during the night-time which shows that they lead an un-ordinary and dangerous lifestyle because it is not something you are likely to see and it also shows that they have both clearly had a poor up-bringing and do not like spending time at home which is the reason they go out at night. They are seen wearing clothing such as tracksuits that are not of a very high quality which shows how the family do not earn very much money so cannot afford to wear expensive clothing.

There is one particular scene that stood out for me during this extract and it is the scene in which Arbor presents his Mother with the money he earned from the cable wire. When Arbor shows his Mother the money, she seems quite angry and asks him where he got it from to which he responds: “I worked me ass of yeah, for this, for you yeah”. This results in a loud, disruptive argument between the two of them which is an argument that is very likely to occur between a husband and wife. This implies that Arbor is taking on the role of the Father which suggests that Michelle is a single Mother who may well have had a very bad relationship with the Father of Arbor.

The opening scene made very good use of cinematography and sound and it shows Arbor having a rage as Swifty is attempting to calm him down. The audience can hear loud, thumping noises and the sound of shouting which expresses emotions such as anger and frustration therefore meaning that tension is created because the audience do not know why he is so angry so it is a very dramatic way to begin the film. Dark lighting is also used to create mystery and to show that something has gone wrong because the cause of Arbor’s outburst is unknown. During this scene, a close up is used to show Arbor and Swifty’s hands interlocked and this shot is used to represent their friendship and their extremely close bond that they share with one another. Another example of when sound is used effectively is throughout the film when Arbor is constantly swearing which is not appropriate for someone of his age. He has clearly been influenced by those around him, especially his older brother who is often seen swearing and it shows that your language and behaviour is usually affected by those you spend a lot of time with and those who are supposed to be your role models and within this extract, Martin is one of the only ‘role-models’ that Arbor has. The dark lighting during the train-track scene was used to show that the men there, who originally had the cable of wire, were being very secretive as they were committing a crime and therefore they did not want to be noticed by anyone. When Arbor and Swifty discover Kitten, a low angle shot is used to show Swifty on the horse which shows how he feels more in control when on one and therefore he is displaying superiority because he is ‘looking down’ on everyone else as they look up at him.

Overall, I really enjoyed this short extract because without even watching the film, I was able to gain an understanding of the characters, especially Arbor, and the environment they are forced to live in. It was a very strong opening scene with clear themes, brilliant Mise-En-Scene and effective cinematography which has made me want to watch the film as I feel very ‘drawn in’ by this extract. 

Changes Made To My Short Film

When filming my short film this weekend, I made some slight changes regarding the different sequences in order to enhance my film and the micro-features within it. All these changes will be added to a newly updated storyboard very soon.

New shots I added:

• Shot 2: A face-on wide shot ending in a medium shot which features the teenage girl walking along the pavement as she is texting her friend. It runs for 3 seconds.
• Shot 3: A close-up of the phone to show the conversation between the girl and her friend. Her friend asks "hey, what you up to?" and the teenage girl replies: "I'm going to surprise my boyfriend at his house". This shot is used in order to give the audience context and it runs for 8 seconds. 
• Shot 15: A face-on wide shot into a medium shot which shows the girl and boy walking away from the bench as they gently nudge in to one another, they are also laughing. This shot runs for 4 seconds. 
• Shot 17: A wide shot of the boy pushing the girl on the swings to represent how he always looked after her. This shot will fade in after the wide shot of both the boy and girl swinging on the swings and it will run for 7 seconds.
• Shot 18: A high angled medium-close up of the couple lying down next to one another, they have their eyes closed and are smiling to show they enjoy being in the company of one another. At the end of the shot, the girl will open her eyes and this will be immediately followed by the shot of her sitting on the bench alone to show that the boy is no longer there to be with her. This will run for 4 seconds. 
• Shot 21: An establishing shot of the graveyard to inform the audience on the new environment and to help set the scene. This will run for 12 seconds. Due to adding this establishing shot, the final shot will no longer pan out to show the rest of the graveyard and will remain as a still, medium close up. 

Shots I removed from my short film:

• I chose to remove the low angle and high angle shot of the boy and girl spinning around holding hands as when I tried it out, it did not look very effective at all and they may have ruined the tone of the film because it was extremely cliché. 
• I also removed the medium shot of the couple walking off into the distance arm in arm because I believe that I have many shots that are very similar to this one so I did not want my film to seem repetitive. 

My Short Film- Lengths Of Shots

These are the shot times for my short film:

             Opening title- 4 seconds
             Shot 1- 14 seconds
             Shot 2- 3 seconds (recently added in, not yet on storyboard)
             Shot 3- 8 seconds (recently added in, not yet on storyboard)
             Shot 4- 7 seconds
             Shot 5- 8 seconds
             Shot 6- 6 seconds
             Shot 7- 9 seconds
             Shot 8- 8 seconds
             Shot 9- 5 seconds
             Shot 10- 5 seconds
             Shot 11- 6 seconds
             Shot 12- 7 seconds
             Shot 13- 8 seconds
             Shot 14- 8 seconds
             Shot 15- 4 seconds (recently added in, not yet on storyboard)
             Shot 16- 8 seconds
             Shot 17- 7 seconds (recently added in, not yet on storyboard)
             Shot 18- 4 seconds (recently added in, not yet on storyboard)
             Shot 19- 3 seconds
             Shot 20- 10 seconds
             Shot 21- 12 seconds (recently added in, not yet on storyboard)
             Shot 22- 6 seconds
             Shot 23- 5 seconds
             Closing credits- 12 seconds

My Brother The Devil Analysis

My Brother The Devil is a social realism drama film which was produced on the 9^th November 2012 in the UK and filmed in Hackney, London. It was directed and written by Sally El Hosaini who is also known for her work on Green Zone and The Fifth Bowl. It was produced by Julia Godzinskaya, Gayle Griffiths and Michael Sackler. The film has a running time of 111 minutes and it has been classified as a fifteen due to sex, nudity, violence, gore, profanity, alcohol, drugs and smoking. My Brother The Devil stars James Floyd (Rashid- the older brother), Fady Elsayed (Mo- the younger brother), Anthony Welsh (Izzi), Amira Ghazalla (Hanan) and Saïd Taghmaoui (Sayyid). 

My Brother The Devil is about two brothers, Rashid and Mo, who are British Arabs being brought up by an Egyptian family and the effect that crime and gangs have on their relationship. Mo looks up to and respects Rashid however Rashid does not want Mo to follow in his footsteps and would prefer him to focus on his education because Rashid leads a gang and finds himself caught up into the world of drug-dealing.; a situation he does not want his younger brother to be involved in. Despite this, Mo ignores Rashid’s requests and also becomes a drug dealer as well as becoming under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The narrative of this film fits in well with Robert McKee’s theory, named ‘story’, which states that a narrative consists of five main stages: inciting incident, progressive complication, crisis, climax and resolution. The inciting incident in my brother the devil is when Mo gets threatened by Demon and his gang and ends up having his shoes stolen from them. It is from this point that the film begins to truly develop because it causes conflict between Rashid’s and Demon’s gangs meaning the life of the main protagonists is changing in order for them to adapt to the plot. The progressive complication would be when Mo catches sight of Demon’s gang outside a local newsagent and in desperation, calls Rashid because he is in fear that he will be spotted and get attacked by them. This leads to Rashid and his gang confronting Demon’s gang and an intense fight breaks out almost immediately. The crisis occurs when Rashid’s best friend, Izzi gets stabbed during this fight and very sadly ends up passing away. I believe that this scene was purposely used in order to show to the audience the brutal realities of gang crime and the impact it can have on someone’s life, even when they least expect it. The film reaches a terrifying climax very close to the end when Rashid wants to get revenge on Demon’s gang, using a gun, and Mo accidently gets shot in the shoulder. This shocked Rashid to a great extent as he realised how close he was to losing his only brother so he makes the decision that everything has to change and he must re-think his actions. The resolution occurs when Mo and Rashid talk to each other alone, resulting in their friendship being restored and both of them having more peace and stability in their life.

Todorov’s narrative structure theory also fits in well with the narrative of my brother the devil. His theory also has five stages which are: equilibrium, disruption, realisation, repair and return. The equilibrium is when Rashid is congratulating Mo on his exam results and encouraging him to continue with his studies; there are no current conflicts between the two main gangs.  The disruption is when Mo gets his shoes stolen from him. It is after this event that the fight occurs between Rashid’s and Demon’s gangs which leads to the death of Izzi. Rashid then comes to the realisation that what he is doing is wrong so begins to have a re-think on how he should be spending his life. The situation is repaired when Rashid meets a photographer named Sayyid and begins to work for him. However, the narrative structure returns to a disruption when Rashid has a sexual awakening and when Mo discovers this, he realises that he has to face his own fears in order to protect Rashid and himself. This however, does not lead to the return of a new equilibrium and instead results in another disruption which is when Mo gets shot in the shoulder. The realisation of this is when Rashid understands that what he is doing is wrong and that there must be a change. Rashid repairs the disruption of the equilibrium by talking to Mo alone which leads to balance and peace being restored within the family therefore meaning the narrative has returned to a new equilibrium.

There is a wide variety of very strong themes displayed throughout this film which are: family, friendship, protection, control, violence, crime, hate, love, lust, betrayal and revenge. The themes of family, friendship, love and hate are the most obvious and they are clearly shown between Mo and Rashid because although they have a big fall out in the film and claim to hate one another (“I wish you weren’t my brother”), they still love and care for each other nonetheless and at the end, they become friends again. Protection and control is shown through Rashid because he does not want Mo to lead the same life as he does and therefore demands him to focus purely on his studies. Protection is displayed when Mo frantically calls Rashid when he spots Demon and his gang outside a shop. Rashid drives to where Mo is extremely quickly and confronts Demon in order to reduce the chances of Mo getting attacked. Violence and crime are expressed throughout the entire film during events such as gang fights and drug dealing. I believe that betrayal and revenge are two of the most important themes because they play a very big part in the plot. Mo feels as if he has been betrayed by Rashid when he rethinks his life plans after Izzi passed away and begins to work for Sayyid. It is this disruption and realisation that eventually leads to Mo coming very close to death. Revenge is shown when Rashid wants the final act of violence between Demon’s gang and his own and decides to use a gun to do so. It is this act of revenge that also leads to Mo being shot meaning that without the themes of betrayal and revenge, the plot would not have been able to reach that unexpected climax.

Mise-En-Scene was used effectively in order to create an urban environment which is very rough. The characters lived in an estate and this was clearly shown by the many establishing shots of towering, crowded flats. The flats were crowded and very close together to represent how the brothers, no matter how hard they tried, could not escape the crime that surrounded them and they constantly found themselves involved in situations such as gang fights.  The small details such as graffiti on the walls enhanced the idea that the characters lived in a rough, run-down area and the characters would quite often be seen wearing costumes such as hoodies in order to blend in, stay out of the way and keep a low profile at times when they did not want to be easily noticed. Additionally, the protagonists having to live a life surrounded by crime and violence was highlighted by the use of props which included weapons such as knives and guns and other props such as alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. Mo felt pressurised to make use of these props in order to ‘fit in’ and be just like his older brother.

The cinematography was absolutely outstanding and the beautiful still shots made Hackney seem like a better place than it really is, possibly to represent how the protagonists wanted a better life for themselves. However, these still shots were almost tilted and not perfectly straight to represent how neither of the protagonist’s lives were completely stable. There were also a lot of moving shots, for example, when a character drank some alcohol, the camera would move upwards as they tilted the bottle upwards, which made the sequence more realistic and also more interesting to watch. I noticed that at times, slow motion camera action was used which allows the audience to see the action that is taking place in more detail. The frequent over the shoulder shots meant the audience could feel more involved with what was happening and during fight scenes, point of view shots were used which enabled the audience to be put in the characters shoes in order to feel as if they were actually there. The use of low angle shots showed that the character had power and dominance and therefore is in control and is more superior than the other character(s) who is in turn portrayed as weaker and more vulnerable.

The use of lighting was very effective throughout my brother the devil. Firstly, dark lighting was used when a character was trying to be secretive, for example, in the scene where Rashid sneaks a girl into the house at night to have sexual intercourse with her, the lighting is very dark and this is to represent how he does not want anyone in the house to see them which in turn, conveys mystery. Also, I noticed that when Mo and Rashid are together at the beginning and end of the film, the lighting is brighter than it is during the scenes in which they have fallen out. This is to symbolise their friendship as brothers and that when they are together, they immediately feel safer and much happier; this bright lighting is not used so often during the scenes in which they have fallen out to represent how their relationship has been torn apart.

I believe that non-diagetic sound was used very creatively in order to create meaning. Music was used to fit the tone of the atmosphere which in turn helped to make it more believable, for example, dramatic music was used during intense scenes to leave the audience on the edge of their seats, wondering what was going to happen next. A scene I clearly remember that used sound artistically was when Mo asked Hanan what music she was listening to and she gave him the headphones to listen for himself. When he put the headphones on, the music that the audience could previously hear very quietly became a lot louder and the surrounding sounds were muted out. This meant the audience were put in Mo’s shoes and therefore were able to hear what he could hear, making the scene more realistic and life-like. Additionally, throughout the film I could often hear police sirens in the background which emphasizes how Hackney is a very rough area with extremely high crime rates.

The performances were excellent because they were very natural so did not seem forced at all. They were all extremely powerful meaning it was easy for the audience to engage with each character, especially the main protagonists, Mo and Rashid, who Fady Elsayed and James Floyd did a brilliant job of playing. I have not seen Elsayed and Floyd act in any other films apart from my brother the devil so I was not expecting such outstanding performances to which there was very little fault.

From near to the middle of the film and onwards, the plot developed strongly and it became clear that Mo and Rashid were going opposite ways in their lives; parallel editing was used to show this. There were certain scenes that showed what the two brothers were doing at the same time via parallel editing in order to show their different stories and also to represent how although they have been torn apart, they still think about one another constantly. The use of parallel editing was very clever because it created intensity and added more creativity and interest to the scenes it was used in.

I think that the film is called ‘my brother the devil’ because Mo did not obey Rashid’s request which was to focus purely on his education and to not get involved with gangs, drugs and alcohol therefore, he was being rebellious so is being referred to as a ‘devil’.  Overall, I really enjoyed my brother the devil because it is a gritty film with miraculous cinematography, stunning performances and strong themes. Each character was very well developed and I was kept intrigued the whole way though; an outstanding film that I would highly recommend to anyone.

Storyboard For My Short Film

Please note that the details on what happens in each shot are also noted on the 'outline' section on my previous post which will be clearer and easier to read. Since filming my short film, I have added and taken away some shots so I will make a new storyboard which shows these changes. 

Development Of My Short Film

Title: Remember

Character development:

• The teenage girl- her name is Katie and she is 16 years old. She is very fashionable and enjoys listening to upbeat/pop music. 
• The teenage boy- his name is Connor, he is 17 years old and he is the boyfriend of Katie. Connor has a very caring personality and enjoys keeping fit and healthy. 
• The mother- her name is Jackie and she is middle-aged. We do not get to see much of her in the short film but from her reaction to Connor's death, the audience should be able to tell that she cared a lot about him. 

Due to there being very limited dialogue within my short film, the audience will not hear the characters addressing one another using their names however their names will be shown in the end credits. This also means a script will not be needed because there is only one very short line at the end of the film. 

Setting: The film will mainly be set outside during the daytime. My key places of shooting will be the bench, the park and the graveyard. There is one scene which is shot inside the house (when Katie finds out Connor has passed away) and the lighting will be slightly darker to represent that something bad has happened. 

Outline: Before the film begins, the screen is black and the title of the film (remember) is written in a white font and "a short film by Jess Wood" is written below the title. This is to inform the audience on what the film is called and who made it. The music that the girl is listening to in the next shot will be heard in this opening sequence.

The first shot will be an establishing shot of Katie walking along the pavement and the camera will pan along with her as she walks. This shot is used to inform the audience on the environment that Katie is in. As she is walking, she is listening to pop music through her headphones which the audience will be able to hear. I am using music instead of dialogue because it effectively creates the desired mood and also the audience are put in the shoes of the character. The next shot is an over the shoulder shot of Katie who is still walking along the pavement. This shot is used to create a realistic effect meaning the audience can feel more involved with what is happening as they can see the surroundings from Katie's point of view.

There is then a long shot of Katie walking down the pathway to Connors house. This shot is used to introduce the audience to the new location and what her destination is. Within this shot, Katie gets out her keys to his house and removes her headphones and at this point, the music stops playing. Next is a close up of Katie unlocking the door in order to give a detailed account of what she is doing. Due to the pop music no longer playing, suspense is created. There is then an over the shoulder shot of Katie walking through the house and into the living room to find Connors mother crying. This shot is used so the audience can see the unexpected situation through Katie's eyes. There is no music at this point and the only sound the audience should be focusing on is the sound of Jackie crying.

Next is a mid shot of Jackie crying whilst holding a small framed image of Connor. This shot is used in order to show her emotions as well as the photograph so the audience begin to understand what has happened. Sad music then begins to play which is quiet at first and gradually gets louder. A close up is then used of the framed image to inform the audience on who has passed away and Jackie's hand is shaking, showing that she is very upset. There is then an extreme close up of Katie to show that she is shocked and devastated because she has realised what has happened. The camera will then pan backwards so the audience can see Katie running out of the room. This is followed by a long shot of the door to show Katie exiting the house and slamming the door behind her.

Next is a wide shot of Katie running towards a bench and sitting down on it; this is to inform the audience of the new environment. Then there is an over the shoulder shot of Katie sat on the bench, the camera will pan up towards the sky and when it pans back down, both Katie and Connor will be sitting on the bench followed by them walking off the bench holding hands. This is when the flashbacks will begin and reflective music fades in. A low angle shot followed by a high angle shot will be used to show Katie and Connor spinning around and looking into each others eyes. The low shot represents how Katie looked up to Connor and the high angle shot represents how Connor truly cared for Katie. We then get a wide shot of the couple on the swings followed by a mid shot of them walking across the field with their arms wrapped around each other. At one point, Connor will let go of Katie and walk off into the distance alone which represents how he has now disappeared from her life.

A wide shot is used to show Katie sitting on the bench alone- the flashbacks have ended. The reflective music then fades out and the original sad music fades back in as an over the shoulder shot shows Katie walking into a graveyard to visit Connors grave; "one year later" is written at the bottom of the screen to show that this is in the future. A mid shot then shows Katie placing flowers next to his grave, this shot is used so the audience can see her completing this action at the same time as seeing her emotions. The final shot is a close up of Katie to show a tear running down her face as she says: "I miss you" followed by the camera panning out to show more of the graveyard. The end credits will then fade in with the sad music still playing.

Running time: I believe I can make this short film under 5 minutes long because I will not show each individual shot for too long as I have used many different shot sizes and types so some may be a few seconds and some may last slightly longer. 

Das Boot Chosen Scene Breakdown: First Draft (Cinematography And Sound)

I have chosen to analyse a scene from Das Boot which is called “Not Yet Kameraden”. Das Boot is a German war film, directed and written by Wolfgang Petersen, which takes place during the Second World War and it follows the life of the German soldiers on a U-boat in 1941. In the scene that I have chosen, the men are attempting to raise the U-boat after it had been stuck 300 metres below the ocean due to it being attacked by a British convoy.

The scene begins with a medium wide shot of all the German soldiers on the U-boat cramped together as they stare desperately at the depth meter. This shot is used to show the horrendously claustrophobic conditions the men had to live in during their time spent on the submarine and it also represents how they have all become very close friends after the traumatizing events they have been through together.  The lighting in this shot has a strong red tint to it which symbolises danger therefore creating intensity because the audience do not know what is going to happen next so are left at the edge of their seats. The atmosphere is almost silent; all we can hear is the sound of the men shuffling around quietly. The silence is used to show that the men are concentrating and are almost afraid to speak because they are waiting for something to happen.

The captain then instructs the engineer to “blow all her tanks” and before the engineer does so, a medium close up is used which shows him closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, as if he is praying that everything is going to work out and that the U-boat will be recovered. A medium close up is used in order to show these emotions and also so the audience can see him blowing the tanks of the submarine. It then cuts back to the medium wide shot of the men who are all breathing heavily and looking extremely anxious and I feel that this was a very good shot to use because it shows that they all have their eyes intensively glued on the depth meter as they are aware that this is there last opportunity to be saved. We then get several extreme close ups of the depth meter and this shot is used in order to inform the audience on what the men are seeing so it also serves as a point of view shot as we are put in the men’s shoes and get a detailed account of their visions.

There is an excellent use of cinematography in the following wide shot which shows the submarine underneath the murky green water. Firstly, the colour green symbolises hope which represents how the submarine has a good chance of rising. Secondly, the use of the wide shot allows the audience to clearly see the setting and they are able to see that the submarine is stuck between a rock which is one of the reasons why it was struggling to rise. Suddenly, the submarine jolts and the men jump at this unexpected movement causing the audience to jump with them. The audience react in such a way because they feel very engrossed and involved with the scene as they are also desperate for the U-boat to rise. Soon after, there is another extreme close up to show the depth meter and this time, the meter is moving upwards to which one of the Men say “she’s rising” followed by everyone cheering excitedly for the first time in quite a while. This cheer triggers the audience to feel immensely happy and relieved for the Men because they know that this is the moment they have been waiting for. The shots then swap between the wide shot of the submarine to see it rising, the extreme close up of the depth meter to show it moving upwards and the medium shot of the men to show that they are feeling relieved and reassured. In the background, violin music is playing in which the pitch is gradually getting higher which symbolises triumph and our hearts are racing because we want the U-boat to rise completely.

An establishing shot of the ocean is then used to introduce the audience to the new setting which is above the ocean as appose to below it. Victory music plays which increases in speed as the U-boat rises to the top of the ocean. This is used in order to show the immense power and strength of the U-boat because it has emerged from the negativity that once prevented it from making any progress. A low angle shot is then used to show the captain opening the roof of the U-boat and climbing up and I believe this shot was purposely used to firstly show he has power over the other men because only he can climb up and also to show strength and victory because he, along with the other men, has defeated the almost impossible. As soon as the captain opens the roof, water falls down on him which is clearly refreshing and he is content to experience such a feeling; it is as if he is climbing up to freedom and away from the danger within the submarine which is still represented by the red lighting. Next, there is a medium close up of the men which shows them huddled very tightly around the opening and this is used to represent how they are all desperate for a breath of fresh air. They are all breathing in as much air as they can which shows they have missed pure oxygen, which is a necessity, and they are relieved to have it back.

The camera is now in the engine room and there is a medium wide shot of one of the engineers who has been given permission to start the engines. The atmosphere is silent to show concentration and before he does anything, the engineer looks behind his shoulder for encouragement as he is afraid they will still not work after spending such a long time trying to fix them. A medium wide shot is used so the audience are able to see the body language of the engineer as well as his facial expressions and also to give the audience an insight as to what the engine room looks like.  As soon as we hear that the engines are working, a medium close up is used of the chief captain to clearly show that he is very excited and he laughs with extreme relief and happiness and he cannot stop smiling which is very effective resulting in the audience also feeling very content and relieved.

The same triumphant music as what was played previously is used in the background as the U-boat storms through the ocean to symbolise achievement and the camera has a handheld feel to it as it moves along with the waves in order to create a realistic effect. The shot shows strong waves splashing against the two men who are standing on the deck of the submarine. This is used to represent that it is a fresh and better start for them now that the U-boat is on the move. A very effective line is used at the end of the scene which is performed excellently by the captain because he says it in such a strong and believable voice. The line is: “not yet kameraden, not yet!” which translates to: “not yet comrades, not yet!” and it shows how the captain will not allow himself and the other crew members to be defeated easily and how it would take a lot more in order to demolish them completely. 

Initial Idea For My Short Film

Genre:

·         Drama

·         Romance

Cast:

·         Teenage girl

·         Teenage boy

·         A mother/Father or older brother/sister

·         (for the cast, I could use my friends and family)

Basic plot:

It would begin with the teenage girl walking along the pavement- she has her headphones in and we can hear the happy/upbeat music she is listening to. She is on her way to her boyfriend’s house to give him a surprise visit and when she arrives, the music stops as she takes off her headphones. She lets herself into his house (she has a spare pair of his keys) and all she can hear is someone crying hysterically. She walks into the living room to find her boyfriend’s mum crying as she looks at a photograph of him. Sad music plays as a close up shot shows this photograph and the girl realises what has happened and she runs out of the house with tears running down her face. She sits on a bench and then there would be a series of flashbacks to show her and her boyfriend together- reflective music is playing and you can hear the sound of them laughing in the background. The shot then goes back to the girl sitting on the bench. The screen goes black and “1 year later” is written on the screen in white letters. The next scene shows the girl walking into a graveyard, kneeling down beside a grave as she places down some flowers, there is a close up of her to show a tear running down her face and she would say “I miss you (insert name here)”. The camera would then pan out to show the whole of the graveyard along with the girl who is still beside the grave, sad music is playing.

How I would make it:

I have friends and family members that I can cast for the short film. I would be able to film it outside of the college because I live in an area that has a graveyard nearby and also numerous benches. The flashbacks can be filmed somewhere as simple as a park or just an open field.

Possible titles:

·         Remember

·         Memories

What the themes would be:

Devastation, love, mourning, reflection, anger and helplessness. Films that share these themes are:

·         The Notebook (love, devastation)

·         Up (mourning, reflection, also has flashbacks)

·         Titanic (love, helplessness, devastation, based on a true story)

·         Dear John (anger, heartbreak, love)

·         A Walk To Remember (reflection, devastation, love)

·         The Fault In Our Stars (anger, helplessness, unexpected turns, love, devastation, realistic)

The intended audience:

I would like it to be a teen audience, ranging from the ages 15-18 so the people are old enough to be mature when watching the film and are able to understand what is going on as the narrative develops. The film is aimed at both males and females however; I feel that females are more likely to show more sensitivity towards the film so in turn are more likely to cry when watching it. However, I do want the audience as a whole to be sensitive so they are emotionally affected when watching this film and are able to display emotions such as crying.

Therefore, the audience should have previously enjoyed films that are realistic and cover the genre of romance in order for them to relate more to this short film and engage to a greater extent with the characters. They should have also enjoyed dramas, rom-coms and family films and are probably less interested in watching horrors and thrillers.

What I am trying to tell my audience:

I am trying to tell them how different people may respond to a death and how it still may have an impact on them in the future. Also how the loss of a loved one can be unexpected so you should always appreciate your loved ones, not take them for granted and to ‘live in the moment’.

How I will create meaning:

I will create meaning mainly through the use of music- mostly sad and reflective music that will help the audience to engage more with the characters and feel the emotions that they are feeling. Due to there being limited dialogue, facial expressions will play a big part in the narrative along with the cinematography. For example, when a character is crying there would be a close up or extreme close up of them to show their emotions. 

FM1 Written Analysis Proposal

The film I am writing about: Das Boot

The scene I am using from Das Boot: “Not Yet Kameraden”

Why I have chosen this scene: I have chosen to analyse this scene because it is very meaningful and I feel there is a lot of write about regarding: what it is about, how meaning is created, the cinematography, sound, light, performance, themes, editing and mise-en-scene.  I also believe that this scene is very high in emotion and is one of the most memorable scenes in the film due to how genuine and heartfelt it is.

These are some points that I could talk about and expand on in my analysis:

•  First shot- mid of all the men cramped together- shows claustrophobic conditions.
•  The red lighting symbolises danger so creates intensity.
• Silent atmosphere- concentration, they are waiting for something to happen.
• When the U-boat jolts, the men jump and so do the audience as we are so engrossed with the scene.
• Close up to show the meter rising- informs the audience on what the men are seeing.
• When it rises, the men cheer and we cannot help but feel happy and relieved with them.
•  Music- pitch is getting higher which symbolises triumph- our heart is racing because we want the U-boat to rise completely.
•  Heavy breathing- relieved, they are in shock of what has just happened.
•   Establishing shot of the ocean- victory music plays which increases in speed as the U-boat rises to the top- shows its immense power and strength as it has emerged from the negativity that prevented it from making any progress.
• The captain opens the roof of the U-boat to climb up and water falls down on him- it is clearly refreshing and he is content to experience such a feeling, it is as if he is climbing up to freedom.
• Medium close up of the men very tightly huddled around the opening- they are breathing in as much air as they can which shows a necessity (pure oxygen) that they have missed and they are relieved to have it back.
•   When one of the engineers is turning on the engines, he looks behind his shoulder for encouragement as he is afraid that they still will not work after spending such a long time trying to fix them.
•  We hear that the engines are working- the chief engineer laughs with extreme relief and happiness and he cannot stop smiling which is very effective and the audience feel very content for him and the other men.
• Triumphant music as the U-boat storms through the sea, the camera moves along with the waves to create a realistic effect.
• Strong waves splash against the men- it is a fresh and better start for them now that the U-boat is up and running.
• Very effective line at the end of the scene: “not yet kameraden, not yet!” meaning “not yet comrades, not yet!”- This shows that they will not allow themselves to be defeated easily.   

Everything Is A Remix

I recently watched a four part documentary called 'Everything Is A Remix' which is written and mixed by Kirby Ferguson and these are the main points I picked up from each episode:

Part 1- the song remains the same

• The word remix means to combine or edit existing materials to produce something new.
• For remixing, you do not need expensive tools, a distributor or skills; anybody can do it.
• Covers are performances of other people's material, and knock-off's are copies that stay within legal boundaries. Covers and knock-off's are known as legal remixing.  

Part 2- remix Inc 

• Most box office hits rely heavily on existing material. For those films that are not 'remixes', the term 'genre films' is used to describe them. Genres are broken up into sub-genres which have there own. even more specific, conventions. For example, horrors have sub-genres of slasher, zombie and creature feature which all have standard elements that are appropriated, transformed and subverted. 
• Films are built on other films, plays, graphic novels, actual events, toys, commercials, books and television shows. For example, Star Wars follows the outline of the Monomyth which consists of stages like the call to adventure, supernatural aid, the belly of the whale, road of trails and meeting with the goddess. Star Wars (1977) plays like a much more updated version of Flash Gordon (1936) and they share similarities such as the opening titles design. 
• Creation requires influence- everything we make is a remix of existing creations, our lives and the lives of others. 

Part 3- the elements of creativity

• Copying is how we learn, nobody starts out original. We need copying to build a foundation of knowledge and understanding.
• After copying, it is possible to create something new through transformations, taking an idea and creating variations. 
• The most dramatic results can happen when ideas are combined. 
• The basic elements of creativity are: copy, transform and combine.
• The interdependence of our creativity has been obscured by powerful cultural ideas but technology is now exposing this connectivity. 
• Multiple discovery is the same innovation emerging from different places.
• "We're all building with the same materials"
• "Progress happens when all the factors that make for it are ready, and then it is inevitable"  

Part 4- system failure 

• Social evolution- copy, transform and combine. It is who we are, how we live and how we create. Our new ideas evolve from the old ones and social evolution is up to us. 
• Ideas are layered, interwoven and tangled.
• Original creations can not compete with the price of copies.
• The gains we get from copying the work of others do not make a big impression but when it is our ideas being copied, we get territorial. 
• When we copy, we justify. When others copy, we vilify. Most of us have no problem with copying as long as we are the ones doing it because we believe that ideas are property. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed everything is a remix and I was kept interested the whole way through. I was shocked to discover how many songs and films in particular are just copies and now I feel as I have more knowledge on the topic of remixes. My favourite episode was part 2 because it focused on film and it was fascinating to see how many comparisons just one film can have. 

Dirty Pretty Things Review

 

Dirty Pretty Things is directed by Stephen Frears, written by Steven Knight and produced by Robert Jones and Tracey Seaward in partnership with BBC Films and Celador Films.  It is a 2002 British thriller (classified as a 15) released on the 13^th December 2002 with a runtime of 97 minutes. It also covers the genres of drama and mystery, with a sub-genre of social and urban realism. The film was given a budget of $10,000,000 and it was filmed in the UK, in Shepperton studios and London.

(Spoiler alert) Starring Chiwetal Ejiofor (Okwe), Audrey TauTou (Senay Gelik), Sergi López (Juan), Sophie Okonedo (Juliette), Benedict Wong (Guo Yi) and Zlatko Buric (Ivan), Dirty Pretty Things is an intelligent film packed with suspense, drama and compassion which is bound to keep you interested the whole way though. Okwe, an illegal Nigerian immigrant struggles to face the adversities of living in the underworld of London whilst having to tackle two jobs, a cab driver by day and a hotel receptionist by night. He chews khat; an illegal herb used to keep him awake and only gets a few hours of sleep during the day on Senay’s couch who illegally works as a chambermaid in the same hotel. However, everything changes when Okwe finds a human heart blocking the toilet in one of hotel rooms and when he delves deeper into the situation, he discovers something much more dire and malevolent behind the crime. Juan, the boss of the hotel, is in charge of an illegal scheme which involves selling human organs in exchange for passports. Meanwhile, Senay has had her job taken away from her by the officials working in the immigration service so seeks help from Okwe in order for her to run away and join her Cousin in America. However, Okwe refuses to act as a surgeon in Juan’s scheme so she turns to Juan himself who agrees to exchange her kidney for a passport but only if she would have sexual intercourse with him to which Senay reluctantly agrees. After hearing of this, Okwe informs Juan that for safety purposes, he would perform the operation on Senay under the promise that Juan would provide them both with new passports under different names. The narrative then takes an unexpected plot twist when the two protagonists drug Juan and remove his kidney instead, a cunning plan which resulted in both Okwe and Senay returning to their desired countries.

Steven Knight, through Dirty Pretty Things, shows the underworld of London that we overlook and the side to it that does not have our well-known landmarks and how much of a social and economic struggle it is to survive in such an area. There is a particular scene that stood out for me during the film in which Okwe, Senay and Juliette hand Juan’s kidney to their business partner in return for passports. The man asks them, “how come I’ve never seen you people before” to which Okwe responds, “because we are the people you do not see”. I believe that this quote is very powerful and meaningful because it shows that throughout this film, the audience are able to hear and see the stories of immigrants such as Okwe who struggle to live in such an ugly world, and it is people like him who we do not see. We learn how awfully they are treated and how they are constantly trying to be exploited by society, leaving them desperate for freedom. This quote links in with the representation of the kidney near the beginning of the film. It represents Okwe and other immigrants because a kidney is invisible from the outside which represents how immigrants are practically invisible in our world and often go unseen. However, a kidney is also an organ that is of a great necessity which represents how immigrants are crucial in helping to create a stable balance within our economy. 

Dirty Pretty Things explores the themes of love, crime, revenge, helplessness, escape and determination. Love is shown as Senay loves Okwe however, Okwe does not feel the same towards her because he wishes to stay loyal to his morals. Crime is a theme because many illegal acts are shown throughout the film such as Juan’s kidney exchange scheme and also the fact that the two main protagonists of the film (Okwe and Senay) are illegal immigrants. Revenge is shown when Okwe tricks Juan into having his kidney removed in return for himself and Senay receiving passports. Helplessness is shown quite frequently for example, when the officials force themselves into Senay’s home and search through her belongings, treating them as if they are worthless and Senay is frightened and helpless, hoping that they do not find something that will get her into major trouble. The themes of escape and determination are constantly emphasized throughout the whole film because Okwe and Senay are desperate to live a better life outside of London and they are willing to do anything it takes in order to escape, which they both eventually get to do at the very end of the film.

The performances were strong and effective; I felt a connection with a lot of the characters, especially with the leading pair. Chiwetal Ejiofor in particular offered a beautiful performance because he was able to keep his character original and realistic and the emotions that he expressed were very heartfelt. These stunning performances in turn really helped to enhance the narrative and created a storyline that was touching and emotionally moving. Additionally, the Mise-En-Scene helped to create characters that were realistic looking regarding their circumstances. They wore average clothes which showed how they were trying to ‘fit in’ so they would not get easily singled out by an official. Also, Okwe and Senay were made to look constantly exhausted and helpless due to long working hours and their desire to be free.

The cinematography in Dirty Pretty Things was very impressive and I believe that sound played one of the most important roles in the film. During intense scenes, dramatic music was used which started off slow then picked up its pace in order to create suspense. To me, the music sounded almost like a heartbeat which represents how the character was anxious and scared because all the audience could hear was ‘their heart’ pounding very fast. Okwe only worked at the hotel during the night so the scenes that were shot at the hotel were quite dark at times which links back to the narrative because extremely dark acts were carried out within the hotel (organ exchanges). This helped to create a mysterious atmosphere which informed the audience that something was not right. Dirty Pretty Things was filmed in London however in places that we probably have not seen before; so many establishing shots are used to introduce us to the unknown. I also noticed that a lot of POV shots were used meaning we were able to see the world through the characters eyes which makes the scene more realistic. This also means we are able to engage and sympathize more with the characters because we are put in their shoes and forced to share the same experiences as them. Of course, many close ups were used to give the audience a deeper insight into what was being shown and also to display the emotions of the characters, for example a close up is used of Okwe at the end of the film to show a tear running down his face, informing us that he is upset as he may not see Senay ever again.

Overall, I really enjoyed this Dirty Pretty Things because it displayed a lot of originality and I felt intrigued the whole way through. The cinematography and performances were almost flawless and I felt strongly connected with the main characters. The themes and messages within the narrative were extremely powerful and they helped me to understand the major difficulties of living as an immigrant in a big City such as London. 

The Maze Runner Review

I recently went to the cinema to watch the new film ‘The Maze Runner’ which is based upon the novel by James Dashner. It is directed by Wes Ball, written by Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers and T.S Nowlin and produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Gotham Group, Lee Stollman and Lindsay Williams. It was released on the 10^th October 2014 in the UK with a runtime of 113 minutes and the film was given a budget of $34,000,000. The three filming locations were all in the USA: Baton Rouge, Jackson and Plantation Village Studios. The Maze Runner covers the genres of action, mystery, sci-fi and thriller and due to intense scenes, it has been classified as a 12A.

Starring Dylan O’Brien (Thomas), Aml Ameen (Alby), Ki Hong Lee (Minho), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Newt), Will Poulter (Gally) and Kaya Scodelario (Teresa), The Maze Runner is an entertaining film packed with suspense and non-stop action. The protagonist, Thomas wakes up to find himself in a small colony known as ‘The Glade’ containing many other teenage boys who have been individually placed there for a period of three years. They are surrounded by a perilous maze which appears to be their only escape and the highly trained ‘runners’ explore the maze during the daytime, attempting to figure a way out however, for the whole of the three years, they have had no success. At night, the walls of the maze close and the inside is protected by terrifying creatures named grievers and so far, not one person had survived a night in there. When the teenagers discover the unique bravery Thomas has when in the maze, Newt promotes him to being a runner which results in more clues being found and progress being made. However, when the first girl, Teresa arrives at The Glade, she has a note attached to her claiming she is the last person to be sent there and from this point onwards, everything changes.

I personally feel that the film had a very strong opening scene. It shows Thomas arriving at The Glade inside a lift, he is confused, frightened and has been completely wiped of memory so he does not remember anything about his past. We, as an audience, do not get to see Thomas’s past before this scene, meaning we are able to share his bewilderment and therefore relate and share a stronger connection with his character. The overall performances of the actors were good as they were able to display a wide range of emotions that were also felt by the audience however, I believe the characters did not show much of a development which left the film to be very predictable at times. The characters were also quite unrealistic for many reasons. For three years they have been trapped on one small area together yet they all seemed to get on extremely well and when Teresa makes an appearance, not one of the teenagers shows any desire for her which is very improbable. Another criticism is that we do not get to find out much about Teresa herself. After her arrival, she blends in too much with the narrative and does not stand out as a female protagonist which for me was very disappointing as I believe her contribution to the film should have been emphasised to a greater extent.

Despite this, Wes Ball made the desired themes of The Maze Runner clear through both narrative and performance. The most obvious theme is entrapment because the teenagers are trapped in the centre of the maze, for a reason they are not aware of, with no conspicuous escape and they are isolated, with no family surrounding them. Determination and courage is shown through Thomas when he makes the audacious decision to enter the maze even after being told it is immensely dangerous and that he would be putting his life at risk. Additionally, the theme of responsibility was shown through every character because each person has their own role within the community for example, being a runner or a farmer and the few that are ‘in charge’ of everyone have the role of punishing those who go against their responsibilities.

The cinematography is what stood out most for me in the film, especially when the characters are inside the maze as the grievers were creatively designed to look fearsome and intimidating. When Thomas is hiding from one of the grievers, there is no sound apart from him breathing to show that he is petrified and is trying to stay unnoticed however, when the griever spots and goes to attack him, the sound suddenly grows strikingly louder, alarming the audience and creating intensity. When inside the maze, the lighting is dark and mysterious which contrasts with the brighter lighting outside the maze, highlighting which area is safer to be in. The scenes in which Thomas is put in the pit by the other teenagers make an effective use of camera angles. When Thomas is being spoken to, a low angle is used of the teenagers to show that at the moment in time, they are more superior than him and hold a greater amount of power, whereas a high angle is used of Thomas to show that he is being looked down on because he is less superior.

Overall, The Maze Runner kept my attention the whole way through and I found the action scenes very enjoyable to watch. However, I feel that the narrative lacked originality and I could not help but compare it to films such as ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Lord Of The Flies’. I also believe that there should have been more obstacles within the maze, not just one type of creature, in order to make the film more exciting and less predictable. 

Foreign Film- Das Boot (Director's Cut) Review

Das Boot (meaning ‘the boat’) is a German war film, based on a novel by Lothar G. Buchheim, written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen and produced by Ortwin Freyermuth. It was first released in 1981 with a runtime of 145 minutes then was released again as the director’s cut in 1997 with a much longer runtime of 210 minutes. The film was given a budget of $14,000,000 to which most of it was spent on constructing U-boats for both outside and interior filming. It was filmed in Germany, France, the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and can be watched in German, English or French, with the additional option of subtitles.

Starring Jürgen Prochnow (the boat’s captain), Herbert Gronemeyer (Lt. Werner- Correspondent) and Klaus Wennemann (Chief Engineer Fritz Grade), Das Boot is a war film like no other, covering the genres of action, adventure, drama and war. The film follows the journey of a German submarine, U-96, in 1941 and gives us an extremely deep insight into the experiences the courageous Men battled through whilst having constant obstacles and almost impossible missions being thrown at them time and time again. Shot through the eyes of the Germans, Das Boot teaches us a valuable lesson that the German soldiers were no different from the rest, they were equally as brave yet vulnerable so it just goes to show that there are no winners in war and  that war itself is the enemy.  

The performances were so believable, it was like the Men were not acting but they were actually there, living the terrifying reality of war and expressing emotions that could only have been felt by those who experienced of traumatizing life of combat at sea. I felt truly connected to every character on the submarine and I was able to sympathize with them greatly; this was reinforced by the long runtime because I was given a chance to get to know the Men and discover how they individually respond to different situations. Every performance stood out for me because each one was as strong as the next and all characters displayed a powerful development especially the captain because his emotions could be told through facial expressions alone, his dialogue just enhanced them.

The themes of suspense, tension, courage, determination and isolation came naturally to Das Boot, they were not at all forced which added to the brutal reality of the film. Wolfgang Petersen did a magnificent job of portraying these themes throughout the film and I constantly found myself at the edge of my seat, never knowing what was going to happen next.

The cinematography was beyond outstanding, it was absolutely flawless and Josh Vacano (director of photography) could not have done a better job. The handheld, POV shots as the camera dodged its way through the cramped submarine made me feel as if I was there with the Men, I was able to experience the claustrophobic conditions which helped me relate to the characters to an even greater extent. The majority of camera shots were close-ups, such as sweat or tears streaming down somebody’s face, to show the intensity of life on the submarine and to help the audience understand the overwhelming emotions the Men had to face. There are many shots that last for quite a long amount of time and they can really draw you into the film due to them being very meticulous and profound. We are able to see the lighting as the Men on the submarine can see it, visible most of the time but in the case of a severe emergency, dark, mysterious and full of fear, with only a flashlight guiding us. The sound contributed a large amount to the film; there was not much music used but when there was, it was for a specific purpose, either to create panic or relief. During intense action scenes, the sound became very loud and dramatic in order to alarm the audience and allow them to share the feelings of extreme fright. However during tense, quiet scenes, small background noises such as a bolt bouncing off the hull of the submarine are extremely effective because they create a heightened atmosphere in which the audience are anxiously waiting for something dreadful to happen.

Overall, Das Boot was an incredible eye-opener to what life was like on a U-boat during the Second World War. The film had exceptional performances and stunning cinematography, a definite ten out of ten.