Short Film Analysis

Wasp

Wasp is about a single mother who is struggling to provide for her children. Despite this, she is still seen trying desperately to have some normality (dating and going to the pub). The camera shots used in the pub scene allow the audience to see the men watching her as she tries to find David at the pub and when she is playing snooker. Whilst at the pub she is wearing a short skirt and vest which attracts the attention of most of the men there, including David. This presents the ideology that women are sexual objects and that the clothes she is wearing are for the purpose of attracting men and not simply because she wants to wear them. Another key element of this short film is the characterisation of the mother. She cares a lot about her children and this is evident when she leaves David after hearing one of them scream. This is the scene when the families struggles push them all to breaking point and the diegetic sounds of yelling and crying symbolises this but the embrace they share shows the strong bond between them. This film conveys the importance of family through the love a mother has for her children despite their struggles. 

About A Girl

About A Girl is known for its shocking twist of an ending which can lead to multiple interpretations. One of interpretations is that a teenage pregnancy might have occurred and she is disposing of it the same way her mother disposed of the dog she tried to hide in the house. She is copying her mother’s questionable behaviour because she does not have a better example. The other main themes and issues raised in the film are ambition, domestic violence and social deprivation. The film is shot with the main character addressing the audience, which suggests the girl is confident. However, this can also imply that the girl needs someone to talk to. Considering that the people she is talking to (the audience) are strangers this presents the idea of counselling. The girl speaks quite quickly throughout the film and this can represent either panic or excitement and the use of jump cuts adds to this representation. The only shot that is quiet is the one showing the baby in the canal and that could imply that she has nothing to say about it or that she cannot explain it, especially to her mother.

When The Day Breaks

When The Day Breaks is a animated short film with anthropomorphic animals as characters. The appearance of the main characters seems to be metaphorical as there are also regular fish, dogs and pigeons. The film shows the two main characters getting ready for the day with contrasting attitudes. The male chicken is serious and organised and makes a shopping list before heading out to the shop. The female pig is cheerfully dancing and peeling potatoes for her breakfast. She realises that she is out of milk however and goes to the same shop as the man. This appears to be a set up for a romantic meeting between two very different characters, however it results in the man being fatally hit by a car after giving the woman a cold glare for bumping into him. The woman, being overwhelmed by a feeling of guilt, rushes back inside. The view then takes the audience through electrical wires that lead back to the chicken’s home and then a series of flashbacks is played to provide the audience with some background on the character. This also generates some sympathy and questioning. The chicken appears happy and lively in these flashbacks, so the an active audience might question why he is no longer this way. 

Curfew