Soft

Within the opening of ‘Soft’ the director Simon Ellis strategically combines the micro elements of sound, camera, mise-en-scene and editing in order to convey macro elements like themes/issues present such as youth, violence and generation differences.


The opening shot is a phone recording of a group of people who we presume are just out of school due to the mise-en-scene, they are in uniform where as the older male is wearing a tracksuit. This itself carries connotations/stereotypical views of a lower class possible school drop out. We next witness a boy in uniform getting beaten up shown on a camera phone due to the low quality shaky image. Within the last couple years happy slapping has been a huge issue within the younger generation.

This then cuts to an Ariel view of a man pulling up to the house in a car. As he enters we are aware of digetic music coming from upstairs. We next see the son walking downstairs, but as soon as he spots his dad he walks back up. During these close-up shots we can only see the boy’s feet, which indicates he is hiding something or is afraid of his dad. The dad next walks into the kitchen and finds they are running low on milk, so he attempts to ask his son in which he gets no response partially because of the music. So he decides to go himself.

We track the dad as he walks to the shop using a series of parallel shots cutting from a mid-shot of the dad walking through the suburban area; this suddenly cuts to a mobile recording of a group of teenagers outside a corner shop harassing passers by. The only gender which is clearly apparent within the film is the male. We do not see a female character present however we do see a few within the gang but as their attire is the same as the boys they are perceived in a masculine way. Instantly we can recognise something is about to occur between the dad and gang. Sound also plays an important part within this scene as it along with camera builds a sense of tension. When we are tracking the dad the only noise heard is the diegetic noise of birds and footsteps but as we switch we can hear beat boxing as well as dialogue. The dialogue used is typically stereotyped towards the younger generation although some will disagree with this and say it just used within gang culture. From the technical codes we become aware of the directors rationale, to highlight the cultural and generation differences within society today.

Once the dad approaches the shop. The camera alternates between the phones recording and the celluloid camera, from which we can see the gang are giving him trouble but he ignores them and goes into the shop. As he is paying the youths start banging on the window. Automatically similarly as earlier we become aware this isn’t the end of the confrontation. When the dad leaves the shop he drops the milk, as he goes to pick it up the gang leader kicks him and spits on him. The dad is able to quickly pick himself up and head home. Once again we track him back using a series of close-up shots and wide-shots not only to show the dads reaction but it also enables the audience to be manipulated into his situation but it also helps us to see the gang following behind. Whilst he is walking he gets flashbacks to the encounter that just happened. As he walks into his front door we can still see the gang as they walk around the corner.

The youths station themselves directly outside his house. A the dad walks in we notice the son sitting o the sofa looking anxious, this reinforces the earlier scene were he is afraid to show his face, but finally the dad realises the same boys that attacked him did the same. But instead of going out to have a go he hypocritically says ‘you’re grown up, you have to stand up for yourself’.

As both father and son wait anxiously, the mixture of camera (close-ups and mid-shots) and editing convey this. The group now start throwing stones at the window, which angers the boy so much he jumps up but as he does the dad restrains him. This is the closest they have been the entire film. Through the proxemic’s we can identify that they are not close. We also become aware of the fact a mother is absent and maybe this is why there not close and also highlights possible issues such as divorce or death. This is also showing class and status as the boy clearly has courage than his dad. Eventually the father feels the pressure to be the typical‘Man of the house’ and stand up to the bullies. Close-up shots track the father as he’s about to go outside, but soon the editorial pace slows and the boy realises his dad is having a moment of weakness whilst he attempts to confront the gang but ends up being pushed aside by his son. The young boy then storms out the house and takes his own revenge. He grabs a bat and quick transitions show him beating the team leader. Once its over he drops the bat in front of his dad as he feels let down. His dad is left ashamed because his son did the job his dad should of done. As the dad makes his way back into the house we cut to an Ariel view used earlier in the film as the dad arrives home. Several people start leaving their houses and a few people on bikes which is ironic as through out the film there has been a lack of community including the police.

Cubs

Cubs is a 10 minute short made in 2006. It was written/directed by Tom Harper. The film has won/ nominated for including BAFTA for best short film in 2007 and won British Independent Film Award for Best British Short in 2006.

The film opens with a group of youths playing football. The walls behind them are covered in graffiti, here the mise-en-scene of set design communicates class/status of the area along with the people but there is also a typical link between youths and graffiti. When the title ‘cubs’ comes up, shortly after a red outline of a fox appears, the red here connotes several things including blood, death and corruption all of which are evident within cubs.

We next cut to a hand held medium shot of a boy and a girl sitting on a wall. The mise-en-scene of costume for both is tracksuit coat, jewellery etc, again typical of youths in today’s society. Due to the several close-up shots of the boy, similar within Antonio’s breakfast we become aware they are waiting for someone. The boy asks does she need to be in and she says ages ago, this shows her age as she has to be home at a certain time. This cuts to a medium shot of 3 males, one of which we automatically identify with being the leader due to his attire, he’s wearing jeans, a baseball cap and a red jacket, linking this to the title we could presume the two are related and he is behind the whole thing.

This cuts back to the boy and girl in which a focus pull is used to show both reactions. As the gang leader enters he kicks the gate open, possibly to evoke a response which it does as everyone stops playing football and lines up. The gang leader walks to the end and through a mixture of over the shoulder shots and POVs we watch as he examines them. When one boy attempts to talk to him he tells them to shut up! However when he gets to the boy he says ‘alright Carl’ and the gang leader nods emphasizing what’s confirmed later that they know each other. When the gang leader gets to the girl he say’s ‘what you doing here’ showing him as being sexist.

As we near the end of the queue everyone nods as he goes past as if they want approval from him. Finally as he gets to the end he nods at one boy and says ‘come’ and walks of. Everyone starts shouting that they didn’t get picked. The boy won’t accept this and starts running followed by the girl after the gang leader shouting ‘Carl’. He turns around and yells ‘What’ then he tells the others to go on and he’ll catch up. He turns around and in a colloquial manner say’s ‘what’s up bruv?’ He responds by saying ‘I fort your supposed to be looking out for me’ again as earlier we know they know each other some how. He laughs and says ‘You’re big man now’ then walks of and say’s ‘see you later, done be late’ showing he has authority within the conversation as well as in general. This cuts to the boy’s happy expression and him asking if he can bring ‘Davis’ he responds’ by saying ‘bring the boy’. The girl repeats ‘boy’ and then looks down. As the gang leader walks away in the background a red bus goes past symbolizing they are situated within the London borough.

We next see an elision of time, its mid-evening about 5 or 6 o’clock. Non-diegetic sound of a car alarm is n the background. As we watch the boy and girl behind rails we start symbolizing with prison which forebodes they are about to do something illegal. We cut to a POV of what the boy and girl looking down at an entrance to a tunnel surrounded by people. Then we watch as they walk down towards them in which we witness several people smoking and drinking. This cuts to a close-up of someone rolling a cigarette then lighting it and smoking the person coughs, which suggests that is may be weed. We next cut to a close-up of an exchange of money. Again symbolizing illegal activity is taking place and puts it to be an important theme/issue within this film.

In the background we can hear non-diegetic dialogue coming from the girl in which she is saying ‘I’ll show um what I’m really made of’. Next we watch as the gang leader strolls in along with 2 bull dogs on a lead. The girl continues her monologue to herself in the background. The gang leader starts heading towards them carrying a bat and says ‘If you Fuck up tonight you’re on your own’ here the 180 degree rule is used to show the boys expression along with the gang leaders. The gang leader warns him to ‘keep his eyes open for the feds because he doesn’t want to get nicked like his brother’. This finally establishes why he has to look after him, because he got his brother arrested.

The gang leader walks away and shouts ‘Oi’ everyone starts to move, shouting and the dogs can be heard. A lower body shot shows the leader going into his pocket and take out a gun and shoot at the floor. Everyone starts running; quick cuts are used to show them slow down as well as a fox, then them running after the fox in order to show their urgency. These are also cut with the dogs growling suggesting something will happen between the fox and dogs.

As they close in on the fox, the gang leader shout’s slow down, these cuts to a POV of the fox. We next see the boy go into hit it, but the fox goes under the fence. Everyone starts screaming at him, diegetic music starts playing and the boy walks away. Other people start to fade as music gets louder. The boy spots the fox, stares for a moment, looks behind at the gang then back at the fox and then shouts he has found the fox. They all start running and jumping over a fence and down an alley way, on the way they nearly knock over an old lady who looks shaken. A car alarm is heard going off. This cuts to the fox, the dogs have caught up and they are growling. As they approach the fox they start ripping it apart. Everyone looks on, the gang leader starts kicking it, and the fox lets out a squeal. This cuts to the girl covering her mouth which then cuts to the fox dying on the floor torn apart.











Youth

Youth is the second short film for Jane Linfoot. The film is split into 3 completely different sections all of which focus on youth in some way.

The first section is of a boy dancing around his room in a wild manner, but cut short due to his father walking in. This section starts of by the young boy receiving a cup of tea. Mise-en-scene plays a key part within this film. His black hair communicates a stereotypical view of a ‘Goth’ or ‘Emo’, but it also shows his rebellious side. The over exposure on the face creates a bleached look, almost porcelain, showing an idealised version of a male as nobody has perfect skin especially during puberty which I guess this character has long gone past. The wallpaper as well as the floor give of a retro feel and makes the audience think of the late 70’s early 80’s. several other props are used to portray the old fashioned style such a the record player which was typically used within the same era. The sound of digetic music can be heard throughout most of the film it consists of a guitar rift and a base line which is repeated. The long takes throughout the film show a sense of naturalism which obviously fits in with the genre as this is a typical convention.

As the boy gets up he grabs a plastic bag and pulls out some skinny black jeans once again reinforcing the stereotypes. Puts them on and starts dancing progatively whilst taking pictures of himself. Shortly after he heads towards the mirror and repeatedly kisses ’himself’ highlighting his age and naivety of things and how he is maybe trying to find himself in general as well as his sexuality. Within a few scenes we see him take a belt and not only does he put it around his neck, but he puts it around his arm until a vein pops up in an attempt to mimic drug taking. Also a reference to the 70’s as well as the present and the pressures facing children today.

The clothes and the music used pieces towards the young boy’s identity as well as the collective identity of which he conforms to through hair and clothes. At the end we witness the young boy’s dad walking in as he is kissing the mirror, the dad vacates the room immediately. Leaving both the audience and young boy confused. We also learn who isn’t present within the film and this is some sort of mother figure, which could be an indication of why he feels he can only express himself privately as dads usually follow the heterosexual alpha male stereotype. So he feels he needs to hide himself. Within this whole film a dominant view we can identify is ‘young people feel imprisoned’.

In the second section we see two girls who appear to be going swimming. Both of which are completely different. The older girl is wearing several necklaces, hair is up high fitting in with the stereotype of a ‘Chav’. where as the other girl is completely opposite. Possibly showing they are related in some way. When they are finished changing we can tell the other girl is more confident with her body as she is wearing a pink bikini and the other girl is wearing a navy all in one swimsuit as she is less confident about herself. Ironically the colours suggest they are different as well as pink is seen as girly and navy is more boyish. The older girl makes a dig at her and says when is the baby due and pats her on the stomach. Highlighting weight issues. Both girls show two different extreme weight issues that a cause a lot of controversy within the media today. The older girl appears to be bordering on anorexia while the other is struggling with her weight. Which also stresses the pressures facing children theses days similar within the first section.
The older girl leaves the changing rooms and waits beside the swimming pool. We cut to the male changing room, in which a boy appears to be going toilet. The camera is situated on the lower half of his body, we track him as he walks out of the changing rooms towards the fountain , he takes a drink. This is the first time we have seen his face. As he walks into the swimming pool area he runs and jumps in front of the older girl. She gets in and they start kissing. Suggesting that she is ahead in both age and sexuality compared to the other girl. Meanwhile the other girl is waiting in the showers to afraid to go out. It than cuts to the boy and girl in the swimming pool in which the boy pushes the girl under the water thinking he is being funny but to the girls he feels it was a malicious act and pushes him away. Cuts to a wide shot of younger girl eating a packet of crisps to comfort herself and washes it down with a fizzy drink. Typical for the youths of today.

In the final section we are shown 3 young boys all in uniform, possibly just out of school. They head towards the back of the bus as it’s where the ‘top dogs’ sit and are usually aggressive. They start shouting out the back of the bus window complying with the aggressive behaviour. Their strong London accents along with the lighting, the colour pallet of which is slightly overcast, washed out and grey conveying they are from a part of London. The naturalistic lighting is authentic which is a convention of the social realism genre.

When the white boy refuses to hand over the knife the gang leader starts shouting. From the position he is in within the frame (central) we are aware of his hierarchy within the group. The Mise-en-scene of costume also suggests this idea through the earring, short tie and baseball cap. Signifying not only his status of the group but within the film and indicated he plays a significant role. The gang leader grabs the white boy and starts suffocating him, he eventfully lets go ad the other kid reaches into his bag and gets out the prop of an inhaler, indicating health issues which he isn’t afraid to hide. As the leader gets up his phone starts ringing. It appears to be his mother, the 3rd boy makes fun off him and doesn’t pick it up. Next he grabs the white boy and puts a plastic bag over his head. We are shown the lower half of his body in which we witness the boy being suffocated flip open the knife. The uncomfortable long takes are used in order for the audience to sympathise with him.

It then cuts to a can on the bus floor rolling around. This image goes unnoticed just like the young boys. It’s like rubbish most people turn a blind eye and only a few react. The film finishes on an open ending which again is a convention within the social realism genre.

Throughout all 3 sections themes/issues such as: pressures, bullying drug abuse, weight issues, mental healthcare being represented and the overall theme of youth is obviously being shown but the take on each section show pressures they face and different aspects the word ’youth’ conjures.

About a girl

About a girl was directed by Brian Percival in 2001. It has gone on to win several awards including BAFTA for best short film, best short at rain dance and TCM movie shorts top prize.

The film begins with a silhouette of a young girl against the background of the skyline and clouds. The girl appears to be singing and dancing along to Britney Spears song ‘stronger’. as the film goes on we learn of the irony within the song. As she has dealt with teen pregnancy aloe and therefore become stronger than she was

This than cuts to a girl talking into the camera, with a strong Manchurian accent with Manchester industrial landscape in the background indicated her location at present. Through Mise-en-scene we are able to identify she is of a working class family. However throughout her monologue we learn that she wants to move away from this life style and make something of herself. Within the film we learn that she has a real passion for singers, her opening line was ‘If Jesus were alive today he’d probably be a singer’. also on several occasions we witness her singing in several different locations. We see her on a bench singer ‘stronger’ again and on the back of a bus with her friends singing ‘Oops! I did it again’ also by Britney Spears. Both of these songs connote purity and innocence and she was pretty young when she wrote them but it depends on the context of when you watch the video as some people may just say it symbolic due to lyrics used.

There are several jump cuts whilst she is talking non-stop about her relationship with her mum and dad, her life, stardom and singers. Showing her irrational behaviour as she is speaking quickly and randomly from one point to another. But at 13 most kids are like this and possibly because she has no-one to talk to about things , which is also shown through the ending of the film.

Her monologue is constantly being interrupted and intercut with several different scenes with her family and dad. In which we witness her asking her father if she can live with him but he says he is too busy . Highlighting issues which also presents themselves at the end of child neglect, but is also gives us insight into how she has managed to keep her pregnancy to herself. Her whole monologue manipulates the audience into her life and helps them empathise with her.

Next we hear her retelling a story emotionless about when her mother drowned their puppy in a canal after she found out the girl had been secretly hiding it for 2 days. Towards the end we are introduced to a shocking scene in which she says ‘she has become good at hiding things’. showing she has become wise beyond her age. She than throws a plastic bag which she has been carrying around into the canal. An underwater shot shows a newborn baby sinking into slowly towards the canal bottom.

The film ends with the plastic bag floating along the canal as the girl is walking away. Highlighting obviously key theme and issue of teen pregnancy. Although we are not definite the baby is hers but from everything leading up and the documentary style confession we presume its hers. Another issue is child neglect as she has kept this for 9 months and even gave birth without anyone knowing which asks the question why did no one notice?.

Antonio’s Breakfast

Antonio’s breakfast was written and directed by Daniel Mulloy. It has won several awards since it was released in 2005, including a BAFTA for best short film (2006), Aspen shorts fest jury award for best drama (2006) and Orange rising star award (2006) as well as several others. He has since got on to produce several other films including, Dad and son and is currently working on two films by the names of baby and Nena.

The film opens with non-diegetic sound of a life support machine, automatically signalling macro elements of Physical ability/disability. This is then followed by short close-up transitions of a leg and an arm. Due to the specific focus with this character we become aware that he’d the protagonist. Next we cut to him drawing a fish, this than cuts to a fish tank. The fish within this film is symbolic through out and not only encoded several meanings but highlights some themes such as entrapment again shown through out film. We are next drawn to a prop of a skull; this itself connotes death again hinting at events to happen. The lighting starts to flicker and the non-diegetic sound of the life support machine come back. The sound of running can be heard. This cuts to a close-up of the dad who appears to be wearing a gas mask. In the background we can hear the young boy say ‘the switch won’t turn on’. From this we identify he is familiar with the equipment and therefore suggests he is a young carer showing his class/status. There are currently about 175,000 young carers in the UK alone.

We are next shown a bunch of youths outside in which the low right hand of the camera we can make out somebody on the floor. The others look around, from there expressions we become aware some sort of assault is taking place and that it’s pretty much an everyday event. The leader who we identify with through Mise-en-scene of gang’s attire which is stereotypical of ‘youths’ as they are seen wearing tracksuits, trainers, earrings as well as chains. These shots are broken down by frequent cut backs to the young carer, showing the difference between two set of youths that are around within the contemporary UK. An Ariel view tracks the youths as they head towards a bunch of flats. Meanwhile we see an elderly woman using a phone box but it appears to be broken. As we watch the youths approach the young lady we expect some sort of conflict however, they take the rubbish she is holding and start walking into the street and chuck it on the road. This shows they are not conforming to the ideology ‘Put your rubbish in a bin’ or even ‘don’t litter’. As we switch back to the carer we watch him place his dad in a wheelchair and puts headphones in which classical music is playing, possibly because he doesn’t want him listening. The youths knock on the carer’s door; he opens it but looks slightly hesitant to let them in. The youths walk into the living room and greet the carer’s dad, which is a surprise as they youth’s of today have a negative presence. Whilst the youths are rapping the carer leaves the room and heads towards his dad’s room, a series of cuts track him as he gets the urinal. The close-up shots convey him as being ashamed; as he walks down hallway the gang leader suddenly exits the door in front. Leaving the carer embarrassed leading him to dropping the urinal. The carer bends down to mop it up when the leader grabs some tissue and starts to help, showing he has respect for him and feels sorry for the carer. Here for the first time we witness a soft side to the touch guy.

We next see the youth’s including the carer talking about sex a typical issue affecting teenagers today. From this we establish they have an open atmosphere. As they leave they give respect to the carer all except the leader, showing he is only nice when he is alone as he has to show his authority or will be shown as weak and doesn’t want to loose face within the gang.

The carer is left waiting until his dads nurse turns up. The dad while waiting says to his son ‘I don’t want you to be late again’ not only does this convey the dad as having authority, showing he conforms to the ‘Dad’ archetype but sows him to be needy as he has become fully dependent on his son. Parallel negatives show him open then close the door. He is left waiting in the hallway. Issues such as conscious, responsibility and duty all come into play here. A medium shot is used as we watch the carer drop to the floor, through this shot the Mise-en-scene of the set design, the wallpaper in particular appears to be chipped. The young boy starts picking at it, showing its routine for him, again showing entrapment and frustration as he wants to be a normal teenager and go out with his mates. But the responsibilities he ahs forces him to be compelled to his dads needs. Within Antonio’s breakfast a mother figure seems to be absent, this again heightens the pressure on the young boy as there is no one else to fall on. This shows an ideological view ‘not enough is being done to help young carers’.

We next witness the nurse arriving casually, and then changing into her white uniform, indicating she doesn’t want to be shown as a carer. Showing her class/ status to be similar to the carer and how they both feel demeaned. As the nurse opens the door the young boy rushes out the house. This cuts back to the old woman taking money from the telephone in which the youth used just after the left. The old lady is breaking away from the stereotypical innocent old lady, bringing themes such as appearance Vs reality to light.

This cuts back to the fish tank; the prop of a diver used within this scene again encodes meaning similar to the skull used earlier. It is at a leaning position possibly to show its dying. This is ironic as the life support machine switches off. This cuts to a medium shot of the nurse asleep showing neglect. This cuts to a hand held shot of the young boy looking up at the flat. The next shot is of the man trying to turn the switch on but in the process the fish tank gets broken. The young boy feels something isn’t right and runs home. This cuts to him at the flat showing an elusion of time showing the urgency of the situation. As he opens the door he runs into the living room. A medium shot shows the nurse massaging the dad’s foot and in the left hand screen we can see the broken tank along with the fish slopping about. Showing not only is the young boy himself ‘Like a fish out of water’ with doing anything besides caring but its also metaphorical for what just happened to his father. Through the young boy’s paranoia we become aware not only is the father dependent on the young boy but he is with his father as he hasn’t got much of a social life.

Gas Man

Gas man follows the story of a father and his two kids on there way to a Christmas party when along the way he picks up two more children. Which later we come to realise this is his other family. It was written in 1997 by Lynne Ramay. The film has won several awards including, best short film at the Cannes film festival. A BAFTA, in Scotland and the Atlantic film festival. It has also been nominated for best short film at the BAFTA awards and the Cannes film festival(golden palm). Since Gas man Lynne Ramsay has gone on to do two feature films, Ratcatcher and Movern collar.

The film begins with a set of close-ups. The director strategically does this with the intent in hiding the main characters faces, in order to keep the audience interested and want to continue watching. Through these close-ups we can start to compose the story, from the characters present and also the context of the time of the year which is portrayed through the Christmas music playing during the course of the film. As the kids are waiting the man is getting ready with help from what we presume to be his wife. This shows traditional gender roles for this generation. When his suit is hanging up the plastic case used to cover it, is symbolic for his concealment of identity. Through the mise-en-scene of ironing boards, kitchen counters, clothes, carpets and cooking ware we can identify them as a working class family.


Next we see a longer take of the little girl getting dressed. The long take compared with others previous shows the films rationale, she is the protagonist within the film. As she puts her shoes on, she taps them together and says 'there's no place like home'. This intertextual link is to 'The wizard of oz'. From this we can explore various representations such as adventure, the moving from old to know and the grass is always greener on the other side.

We next see the kids leaving the house. This turns to a window shot of the mother looking out. We can just make out her expression, she appears to be worried about. The reflection however conceals her expression which has a masking affect on her.

Once they are outside we see a wide shot. In which we can just make out the silhouettes of father and daughter at the top of the hill, but the boy is way behind. He is very reluctant to go out. This shows they boy and father don't have a close relationship, maybe because he knows what is about to happen. The lack of transport within this film once again conveys their status as they have to walk everywhere.

It next cuts to a slow tracking shot of a disused railways , which could be showing detachment of the family and the journey they are about to go on. This cuts to a close shot of father and daughter. In the background we can make out buildings. There is a definite contrast between where they are compared with the background, indicating their social status . Also within this shot the corners are blackened out which creates a lack of innocence. The mise-en-scene of lighting in this shot is brighter when compared with other scenes, showing moment of joyfulness but this is short lived.

As they approach the woman and children standing around the girl whom is about the same age as the protagonist. The boy than says to his sister 'you look like her' in which she replies that she doesn't' and mocks what they are wearing. From their regional identity of the accents we can gather they are from Scotland.

The 180 degree rule is used next between the woman and man. The woman says 'she was expecting more money from the man' in which he replies ' he only has a pound'. This instantly communicates child neglect as they are going out and he hasn't brought enough for the children. It also shows theme of poverty. This shot is followed by a close-up of him touching the woman's hair, but she moves away. Within the film both woman react when the proxemics are intimate because they know about the situation.

As they set of we notice the antagonist has dirty knees and appears to be in school clothes, where as our protagonist is not. Communicating themes such as education vs non academic. When they enter the pub the dad heads straight for the group of men drinking beer. Once again showing neglect as children have to play alone. The background sound heard within this scene is Christmas music, which is ambiguous as its happy and cheerful but doesn't reflect on characters mood. The two boys are fighting. The protagonist gets jealous because the other girl is sitting on her dad's knee. But from here we actually learn they are half sisters. Through girl's dialogue when she says 'my daddy's knee'. The film next goes into slow motion and the camera pans around the room, its as if its from the perspective of the drunken dads point of view.

As they leave we see silhouettes, it's like a family convention of a portrait which is ironic as they are far from it. The next shot is the most significant along with the other close-up of both girl's hands. Because at first we know the holding of hands is due to friendship but his soon changes will the next hand shot which seems forced and shows both jealously and anger. The final shot is of the protagonist picking up a stone in which she is about to throw it at the other girl. The stone symbolises hatred but is also a gesture which she has picked up from her brother and possibly her father.

The themes of neglect, responsibility, jealousy and betrayal are portrayed within Gas man but the overall the message of the film is you have just got to deal with your consequences and not hide them from the rest of your family because once it comes out it wont be good.

The Most Beautiful Man In The World

The Most Beautiful Man In The World was written and directed by Alicia Duffy in 2002. The film has been nominated for several awards and even won a BAFTA award for best short film in 2003. It follows a story of a little girl looking for something on a summer’s day outside, but in the process comes across a stranger.

The director's combination of the slow tilt up the torso of a little girl as her image fades up and the framing of her waxy, clamy face as she yawns introduces one of the film's key issues, the sexualised representation of young children.

and elements which will be explored through-out the remained of the film. such as the sexualisation of the character, which is shown through camera as well as Mise-en-scene within this shot

  child neglect which highlights lack of stimulation, this is shown through her expression of boredom.

 at the outset of the film chooses to fade up to a close-up of a little girls face and capture her expression as she yawns. the choice of shot is intresting The film begins with a close-up of a little girl, which fades up from her yawning to a black fade of her lying next to her dog on the floor to watching TV. An ideological view from this is it is said ‘children watch too much TV’. Through theses shots we can identify she’s bored and also entrapment within her own house. We hear the diegetic noise of a telephone ringing, and a woman who we presume to be her mother walks out the room to answer it, leaving the little girl alone. The wide shot used here shows their class/status as being low, from the mise-en-scene of props we can see that they only own a chair and TV in the living room. This reinforces the child’s lack of stimulation as all she can do is watch TV. When the mother answers the phone she speaks in a weak voice, this not only communicates her age but possibly depression. Through dialogue class/status is again shown when she says’£95 is too much’.

Mise-en-scene is extremely important, such as the characters costumes and props. The little girl is wearing a cream top which has connotations with purity and innocence. This reinforces her youth when she is juxtaposed with the older characters.

The long wide shot when the girl is outside riding her bike communicates her loneliness as well as vulnerability. An important ideology that we get from this is ‘children shouldn’t play alone’ but others may disagree and say ‘children need to have space to explore’.

Next we see a close-up shot of the girl looking back to check if anyone is looking out for her. Then it pauses and we pan across the field. The next shot is of the girl looking out behind the fence, the fence within this is a symbol of the girl’s boundaries. She next edges slowly along the fence; she walks slow than quickly into the fields this is shown through camera and editing of the jump cuts. They are used to show her exploring and how suddenly her stimulation is rising. This is also shown through mise-en-scene of lighting. The lighting in the opening is the reflection of the TV on the little girls face but this is than contrasted by the low lit room. The low key lighting used when the little girl is in the house communicates depression and boredom but also lack of stimulation.

Through out the film the prop of the dog acts as a sign of missing guardianship as there’s no male model and also the fact that we see an absence of the mother until the last scene.

Eyeline matches which are part of continuity editing are used as the girl speaks to the man. The only spoken dialogue within the film is from the little girl when she speaking to the man, she says ‘that’s my dog’ and smiles. Several ideologies’ from this is ‘don’t talk to strangers’, ‘don’t wander off’ and ‘children should always have parental supervision’.

Next we see a close-up shot of him carefully removing a beetle from her shoulder and hands to her. His movements show no hesitation which maybe shows their familiar with each other. The next shot is very important, it’s a long shot of the two standing which cuts from the man’s face to a close-up of the mother looking out for the girl. From this we can pick up on a familiar hate look maybe communicating they now each other. The girl runs back home and sits on the staircase in which no sound can be heard.

The last scene is after the credits. It’s of the girl watching TV. From sound we can hear children shouting with excitement. We next see a shot of the expression on the girl’s face which is off jealousy.

Dialogue is important to create representation of age as it allows the audience to know that the girl may have speech problems. Hence showing the issue of child neglect, but from this people could say its hard being a single parent which takes the responsibility away from her and puts it on the social services who are not present but from this people could say they are overstretched. The overall ideology we get from this is ‘children should develop in a positive way.

Overall the director Alicia Duffy wants to see the different responses but due to loss of innocence within some audience members it’s hard to establish whether the man is a paedophile or an estranged father. The director also is communicating the theme of danger throughout. Through lack of community and through the over the shoulder shot of the bridge. The diegetic noise of the cars shows it’s a dangerous road. Maybe hints at possible ending.

There are many issues present within this film such as child neglect, lack of a father figure and child stimulation. Various ideologies are then explored through the micro elements of camera, sound, editing and mise-en-scene.