Research Tasks - "Wasp" - Chloe McGlinchey

Wasp (Andrea Arnold, 2003)

* I had identified this short film to be of a social realism genre. The style of content throughout the film was well thought out and every detail mattered in pretty much every scene. The mis en scene was particularly powerful, due to what was put into it and exactly how much. the characterisation was extremely important because of the type of people they are, it is important to stress this to the audience so that they know just basic details of the characters in ways the speak, act and walk.

* This film uses genre/style of conventions uniquely in order to connect with the audience. The way the characters act towards each other and their living in everyday life in order to succeed or fail. The aspects I find interesting throughout the piece were in fact the character relationships. The way that the Mum "Zoe" was towards the female , who accordingly hit one of Zoe's children, when she sticks up for her family she does it with violence and heart as they need to be protected by their mother in order to not be taken away by the authorities.

* The advantages of using the short narrative in this particular film word very well. My reason for this is due to the close relationships towards "Zoe" and her children, the way the director has more or less got straight to the point and views of this small but dysfunctional family. The opening of the film flows well with the film as it starts to give a taste between the female and Zoe. You can immediately see what "Zoe" is willing to do to protect her family. The ending of the film may seem disappointing to some people but to others may be the perfect ending for it. As the irony of the car not pulling away quickly, it may make you think what may happen but as "Dave" smiles towards "Zoe" he then pulls the car away and the camera then follows. It then cuts to the city lights at night with "Hey Baby" playing in the soundtrack.

* With the film being related to social realism, the sounds the audience hear are diegetic (which means characters and audience can hear these sounds), you can mainly here the surrounding area in which the family live. The sounds of traffic, and other city inaqualities are everyday life and do not bother Zoe's family. The film tends not to build up suspension during any major events as the film is meant to be viewed to seem real as possible.

* The director has chosen to position the audience behind the eyes of the main character "Zoe". This gives the audience an oppourtunity to see how she copes everyday life with poor living conditions, no job, no money and four young children to care for. As the film starts to end, "Zoe" ends up meeting up with an old friend "Dave" who takes her out (down the pub) she thinks that she can turn her life around, with just one meeting. However at the beginning of seeing dave she fails to tell him that she has four children. But as the end approaches he almost seems like her own knight in shining armour.

Chloe McGlinchey