In analysing a short film, I decided to analyse a 10 minute long, short production called 'Mud Boy'. In the film, a young girl, Mina, is watching her mum and step dad have an argument, with her step dad being abusive towards her mum. Upset by what is happening, she runs out in to the garden where she makes a chilling discovery at the bottom of her garden - she discovers her younger brother buried under the soil. Believing he is still alive, she cleans him up and invites him inside, just as the police come and ask Mina where her mum is as she is worried due to the fact she has not seen her son in days. Mina invites the police officer to come outside with her and shows her where her brother is, when in actual fact it is just her imagination and her brother is actually dead under the soil as her step dad has murdered him.
Cinematography, editing, mise-en-scene and sound are all used effectively throughout this production to highlight the key themes of abuse and murder. There is also a sense of mystery and confusion throughout the film and all of these aspects express these themes clearly to the audience.
As the production begins, an establishing shot of the house in which Mina, her mum and her step dad live inis shown, showing the setting of where the film takes place.
A close up is used after the establishing shot showing Mina watching her mum and step dad arguing. In this shot, we can see a faint blur of Mina's mum on the right and it seems as though Mina is looking up at her mum, showing her from a high angle. This reflects her status as a young child and she is surrounded by people who are in control.
An over the shoulder shot/shot reverse shot is used on Mina's step dad and her mum arguing. It shows the couple having an angry argument with each other and shows Mina's step dad's angry expression and her mum's terrified expression, further highlighting one of the key themes of abuse.
A point of view shot is used when Mina runs out in to the garden, giving the effect that someone is chasing her, possibly her step dad as she, and her mum, are in fear of him.
A long shot is used of Mina playing in the soil. As we are able to see the leaves around the camera, this gives the impression that someone is hiding in the bushes and watching her, creating a sense of mystery.
A high angle shot is used and points directly down on Mina and what she has discovered - her brother. The use of the high angle shot shows to the audience Mina's brother from head to toe.
An extreme close up is used of the door handle as Mina goes inside the house. The door handle is seen moving up and down as though someone is stuck inside and cannot get out, suddenly creating a frightening feel.
Medium shot of Mina's brother, showing how dirty he is due to being under the soil for so long and showing his reaction as he looks at the house and realises the man who murdered him is inside.
A slightly low angle shot is used of Mina and the police officer, showing Mina smaller than the police officer. This shows that the police officer has more power and status than Mina.
The shot is then tilted down slightly as the police officer kneels down next to Mina, forming a medium shot. As the camera tilts down as the police officer kneels, this shows that the police officer has stepped down from her previous action of being stood up and seen as a figure of authority to now the same level as Mina as she talks to her politely.
A long shot is used of the piece of land where Mina found her brother and shows he has disappeared, further highlighting the sense of mystery which runs throughout the film.
An eyeline match is then used as the police officer looks on at what she has seen. From her expression, she looks startled and the audience are then left wondering what exactly she has seen.
Eyeline match used of Mina's brother laid in the soil, showing to the audience what the police officer saw and
that Mina was clearly imagining seeing her brother alive.
A long is then used of Mina's brother sat on top of the shed, to trick the audience in to thinking that Mina's brother is alive, however another shot is used on Mina looking at him which then proves that he isn't, as Mina is imagining it.
The use of editing is very effective in this film. There is the continuous use of cuts throughout in order for the audience to follow the narrative. There is also the use of very sharp cuts as Mina is washing her hands in the sink, showing the process from her hands being dirty to becoming clean.
The use of mise-en-scene is very effective in this film. For example there is the use of props such as Mina's toys and the spade, which act as tools of escapism for Mina as she tries to get away from reality and goes in to her own world, which is the garden. Also the way in which the little boy is dressed and covered in mud outlines the fact that he has been underground for quite some time and this is also shown with the use of pale make up on his face and dark make up around his eyes, portraying him as sort of like 'the living dead'. Also, the police officer dressed in her uniform shows that she is an authoritative figure and a person of importance.
The use of non-diagetic sound, such as the music, is used extremely effectively throughout this film. At the beginning of the film, the music starts off as sounding slow, dark and has a serious tone to it, highlighting the key themes of abuse, murder, confusion and mystery. However when Mina finds her brother's hand moving under the soil, the music changes to reflect the movement of his hand and becomes high pitched and tingly. As Mina walks in to the house, the slow, dark, serious music returns that was played at the beginning, highlighting the fact that danger is possibly near due to Mina's step dad being in the next room. As Mina's step dad gets arrested, the music changes to sounding slightly more relieved as he is being taken away and Mina and her mum can now live happily without being in fear of him.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p009d657
