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.
