During the scene of Coming down the Mountain, the
representational issue of disability is clearly presented through the many
different micro features, this are sound, editing, camera and mis-en-scene.
First of all a long take is used and the cinematographer
makes the camera fade in so the actual shot gradually and smoothly appears on
the screen also the previous shot dissolves away to the next scene. Furthermore
continuity editing is used which is connected to the diegetic because it tries
to kind of recreate what has already happened.
This then moves on to a eye-line match to show the main character
starring at his disabled brother which represents how much his brother is a
burden and annoyance to him.
Linear narrative is used to present the audience with what
is happening in the scene which is displayed through the use of montage editing
which has juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected images to create a particular
meaning and help support what is being said in the diegetic.
The next scene is set in the kitchen because it involves a
stereotypical family eating their breakfast as it is a fairly slow paced scene
it is viewed by the audience through a long take as the same shot is used for a
long duration. When action starts to
happen in this scene such as the brother trying to reach for his brothers
Weetabix the shot then speeds up through the use of a short take because the
shot is only used by the cinematographer for a short period of time. This signifies the early money rush that a
stereotypical family would face however the editing speed is a lot slower when
the disable boy is in the scene which tries to explain how he is unique and
different compared to normal people.
This next scene uses a cross cut to show the food and the
two brothers talking about pigs and Ben telling his disabled brother about how
they kill pigs. The editing technique of a jump cut is used by the
cinematographer to show how the disabled brother tries to eat pork in a sausage
and then gets put off it because of what his brother is saying which then
ultimately builds tension before the dad steps in.
This scene is showing the audience the two boys at the bus
stop waiting for the bus. It uses short takes for this so the audience views a
range of different things which the disable brother does in a short period of
time, this is a good use of montage editing by the editor because it shows a
juxtaposition of unconnected images such as playing with toys which represents
to the audience how annoying the disable boy is to his brother can be.
Furthermore an eye line match is used to show Ben’s daily perspective on his
disable brother which presents the audience with how annoying he is to his
brother.
When the two boys are sat at the bus stop continuity editing
is used to support the diegetic of one of brothers which is ‘being dragged off
to an old pervs sex dungeon’ continuity editing is you used to try and give the
audience a false impression about one of the minor characters in the scene.
In the next scene the speed of the scene is very slow which
makes the audience the feel connected and are able to relate to the boy bored
at the back of a history classroom, this represents how he is just a ordinary
school boy, however when more action is used in the scene match on action is
used to show the how continuity of space and time is being more emphasised.
In the scene of the boys talking about the party the match
on action is very faced because this juxtaposes what the party will be like,
however when the cameraman decided to point the camera at the disable brother
the match on action decreases in speed which represents how boring the night
would be if he decided to spend the night ‘babysitting’ his disabled brother.
When the disabled boy is on the bus a long take is used to
show the audience his surroundings on the bus, as his calmly sat on the bus
other kids his age are pushing, shoving, fighting and generally just being loud
which represents the difference between
the types of people. He is scared and frightened of what might happen because
of his disability whereas normal kids aren’t scared of anything. A cutaway is
used to show a grown adult character sat on the bus; this is done again to show
another huge contrast between the different types of people.
Lastly in the same scene a slow motion is used to try and
represent how the disabled boys mind is working, however this just adds effect
and makes the audience feel sorrier for him.
First of all in the micro feature of camera an aerial shot
is used by the cinematographer to show the audience the two main characters and
to establish the setting of the clip. Then a medium close up is used to show
the audience the main character talking about his brother, this shows his mid
chest up to his head to show his facial expressions which presents how disgusted
he is with what he is looking at. This is significant because it shows the
audience what the older brother thinks of his younger brother. The
cinematographer then uses a extreme close up to show how the other brother is
disabled and isn’t actually dead like the diegetic is suggesting.
In the next scene an establishing shot is used to present to
the audience that the family represents an ordinary working class family, due
to the fact that they live in an ordinary council estate even if they live with
a disability. Next an extreme close up is used to show the disabled boy eating
and looking at his cereal, this is done by the cinematographer because it shows
he isn’t showing many different facial expressions as he is very simple minded,
also it shows the audience that one of the boys is disabled, however the camera
is equal with his eyes which shows that he isn’t in this scene disregarded and
disrespected because he is disabled, this is a good use of ideology because it
shows how disabled people shouldn’t be discriminated against because of their
disability. Furthermore a reaction shot is used to show the disabled brothers
reaction to when the other brother says ‘he’s eaten all the Weetabix’ this is
significant because even if the brother has a disability he is still capable to
try and wind his brother up which is like a stereotypical pair of brothers
would. The next shot is an over the shoulder shot because the brother is
looking at his dad and the cinematographer tries to create this by the camera
angle which is used, also the angle of camera is very low the cinematographer
has done this so it makes it seem that the boy is looking up to his dad because
he has respect for him like a stereotypical family would.
A three shot is used by the cinematographer because it shows
the two brothers and a extra old man in the scene which is significant because
it matches the diegetic and how the disabled brother has to be looked after in
case someone tries to kidnap him.
Lastly an close up is used to show the audience the
expression on the disabled boys face while he has to go home on his own, also
the fact his hands are being shown is significant because it shows how he is
gripping on for his life because of how scared he is.
The next feature of micro analysis is sound this is shown
through either diegetic sounds or non-diegetic sounds.
First of all the non-diegetic in the first scene is a slow,
down beat soundtrack which juxtaposes with one of the main characters diegetic
because he is talking about death and how he had killed his brother which isn’t
a happy and positive subject to be talking about so to really engage the
audience the non-diegetic is very slow and down beat. The diegetic of ‘were just a load of mixed up
chemicals’ and ‘sometimes they do change the recipe’ which shows that the
capable brother doesn’t think much of his disabled brother because he is just ‘
a big potato with eye tentacles’ which presents to the audience that the
ordinary brother sees his disabled kind of like a alien because he is so different. At the same time the diegetic is a song
called ‘wouldn’t it be nice’ which is significant because it ‘s explaining how
everything would be nice if everyone was grown up, which explains how Ben the
ordinary brother feels because he thinks that once he grows up he wouldn’t have
to look after his brother because he would be free.
The diegetic of the families mother is significantly calmer
and more relaxed towards the disabled brother compared to what the Dad’s
diegetic is towards Ben the ordinary brother which is significant because it
shows how the disabled boy gets treated very different compared to the other
boy as a result of his disabilities, which is unfair because they both should
be treated the same as they are both brothers. Furthermore the fact the
disabled boy says ‘I need a poo’ is significant because it shows how is very
simple and represents the fact that he is mentally like a 5 year old which is a
huge problem with disabilities such as this, also the scene where Ben says
‘they need someone with them all the time’ is significant because it explains
to the audience how he can’t be left on his own no matter what the occasion.
In the last scene the non-diegetic again slows down and
turns into a down beat tune, which juxtaposes with the sad moment where the
disabled boy is left to fend for himself and could be prone to anything as he
is more vulnerable than normal kids. Furthermore the non-diegetic is also of
normal school kids swearing and talking loud to each other which again show’s
the audience how the disabled boy is unusual and different because he is just
sat there on his own rather than in a group which shows two binary opposites.
Overall the disabled boys diegetic is very simple and slower
compared to every other characters in the scene because this helps the audience
understand what his actual disabilities are and how they affect him with his
day to day life, also It helps the audience engage with him because they can
feel connected a lot more as a result of understanding him more.
Lastly during the scene of coming down the mountain, the
micro feature of mise-en-scene is used to great effective to help show the
representation of disability. For example in the very first scene in the
brothers bedroom it is split in half for both boys, one half is dark, plain and
dull which is for the fully capable boy, the other half is bright, colourful
and busy which is the disabled boys half, this is a use of iconography because
it attaches certain meanings such as disabled boys are allowed to like many different
colours the way small children do whereas fully grown teenagers are only meant
to like certain colours and stereotypically are very dull. Furthermore the fact
the disabled brothers favourite cereal is important because it is Weetabix
which is a soft easy cereal to eat and make which symbolises what his life is
like because of his disability whereas when the other brother tries to have
some of this he has to eat Aplen which is a more complex cereal which is
significant because it can also represent how adults live because they try to
be more complex through Alpen but become jealous when more simple people have
less complex cereals such as Weetabix. Also in this scene the fact the disabled
boy gets a kiss from his mum and the other brother doesn’t even get
acknowledged is significant because it shows how the disabled boy gets a lot
more attention from his parents compared to the more able brother. In the next
scene the disabled boy is being taught how to ride a bike which juxtaposes with
the other brother who is aiming to shoot him with a toy gun, this is represents
the fact how his life would be a lot easier without a disabled brother however
because it is a toy gun it shows how he is still a child. The fact the next
scene is set in a ordinary school represents how the family are stereotypical
because they go to a normal school and one of the brothers is a normal teenage
boy with just a dream, however the only difference is they have a disabled
brother.
Just as the brothers exchange money an explosion goes off
which I feel symbolises the dangers which the disabled brother is going to be
facing on the way home from school. Furthermore once the responsibility of
looking after his disabled brother lifts from Ben the lighting instantly
changes and goes a lot brighter because it shows how he would be much happier
without him in his life.
Overall the clothes all the family members are wearing are
very significant because they are all fairly tatty however they are all fairly
normal which supports the fact that they are a stereotypical family with a
normal life.
In conclusion I feel this clip of coming down the mountain
is very good in showing the representational issue of disability. I feel that
it was constructed in such a good way that disabled people aren’t offended
however it allows the audience to see the huge difference between ordinary and
disabled people. Furthermore the audience are able to understand what it is
like dealing with a disabled person on a day to day basis through the use of
all the micro features in this clip.
