Friday, 10 September 2010

Mud Boy - Nic Penrake


It deliberately gives a false opening, with opening credits and a music bed like a mainstream film does. The spade’s importance is noted straightaway in the film as it slowly tracks from a low level (the garden) up to the house. At various points throughout the short the camera keeps going back to a shot of the spade, which keeps it in the forefront our minds. The little girl Mina is introduced as the protagonist as the first human shot is of her playing on her Nintendo. She does not seem to be affected by her parents arguing around her; her focus is on her game, it is as though she no longer seems to note anything around her. As Mina runs through the garden the camera follows her and its movement makes the audience feel like they running, escaping with her. The high-angled shot looking into her garden makes her seem vulnerable and the non-diegetic music forebodes the discovery she makes. The director deliberately shoots the protagonist playing with her toys from a low level, helping the audience to enter the mind of a child as they watch her, and allows them to understand how she must feel at the end. 
Penrake does not conform to the conventional narrative when his protagonist finds the body. Her reaction to go and fill up the water instead or screaming for her mum, shock the audience as it is unexpected. This twist in straightforward plot, makes it seem more innovative and again gives the reader a surprising, but ambiguous ending. When she finds her brother, the lighting goes grey when they are together though it is bright; might signify that he will always be with her.

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