Short Film Analysis Research- Holly

One Man's Loss-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isbZYNpm3i8

The film begins with establishing shots, of the three characters. From the first character we can infer he is homeless, from his dirty feet and lack of shoes, the slow depleted walk matched with the drum beat of the music, suggest to us his living state. The second character we can assume he has wealth, through his suit cuffs and suit we can see him wearing, his open topped car, and his clean shaven face, which can usually be assumed to represent wealth, or clean-cut. The third character we can see smoking, and we can assume she is directly related to one of the two characters, more likely the second rich male. The non-diegetic soundtrack is upbeat, and the editing used is short sharp cuts, to introduce.

Todorov's narrative theory can be applied with the cross cutting editing, in which we see the characters meet. Todorov's theory can be applied loosely, as the opening as the equilibrium and with the two males meeting showing the beginning of a disruption, and a connection between all three characters.

 In the opening when we see the rich character we can assume he has been cheating, through his body language and his facial expression when he is seen to be checking his suit collar, this is generally seen as a visual code of men cheating, as if to check for lipstick marks. As an audience through cultural understanding and shared knowledge we can infer the male character is cheating and we automatically dislike him.

As an audience we are positioned to feel sympathetic for the homeless male, through the camera shots, editing and sound. When he steps on the glass we visibly see him in pain, which is also used along with a non-diegetic soundtrack of slow minor key piano music which usually carries connotations of sorrow or defeat. The audible dialogue of him in pain along with the high angle CU of the glass in his foot helps us to feel sympathy for the character.

 

However as the film moves along, as an audience, unrestricted narration is used to match with the parallel editing, which soon becomes cross cutting editing to link the three characters together. Todorov's narrative theory can once again be loosely applied, with the couple’s argument as the disruption or confrontation. Levi-Strauss' binary oppositions can be applied to show the opposition between the rich and the poor, also shown through the two males disruption when they meet. The unrestricted narration where we see more than the characters do, link together the three characters, a slow pan is used from the homeless male up to the couple, and the diegetic dialogue of the characters arguing is apparent to the audience, showing parallel editing.

The film now cuts between the two settings, the couple in which the audience is given a voyeuristic view of them arguing, and the man on the street, linking the two together. The pace becomes rapid, switching between the two as the homeless man begins to change out of his clothes into the rich males clothes that have been thrown on the street. The slow motion MCU shot of the male putting his arm through the shirt, visibly shows his change but also shows him experiencing luxury. It almost switches the identity of the two characters, as the homeless man is now dressed in an expensive suit and tie, and the rich male is dressed in nothing but a towel.

We now audibly hear the rich male character is having an affair through the dialogue, as the film builds into a climax and the woman slaps him. The diegetic noise of the slap is intensified and the atmos soundtrack is almost gone silent, to create tension, and provide a reaction. We as an audience are positioned to dislike the male character even more now, and the rich are represented in this film to be disloyal and rude. The non-diegetic soundtrack returns and we feel sympathy for the female character as she leaves. The editing style switches from parallel editing from the two settings into cross cutting as the female and the homeless male meet and are in the same setting. There is a switch in identity between the two male characters now, and the homeless man now holds authority and change in characteristic, his demeanour changed dramatically, his body language and facial expression has changed, he looks as if to play the part of a rich man.

The film doesn’t have a specific genre, although it holds elements of a narrative genre, or a realistic portrayal of life. However it’s easy to watch and the simple storyline of a change in fortune, as the homeless man now ends up with everything the rich man had; that made his appearance rich. Due to cultural stereotypes (zeitgeist) the homeless man is now accepted, and the audience now have a different view of the character, as he drives off with the rich man’s possessions and now ex-girlfriend.

The film overall uses the representation of different classes and women, the binary oppositions between rich and poor and the treatment of women to be shown as vulnerable.

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