Beginning with narrative structure, this short film takes on a linear narrative structure. All the events within the short film happen in chronological order and are shown through restricted narration at the beginning and finalize with unrestricted narration. The restricted narration at the start of the short film is shown through use of camerawork, with extreme close ups, big close ups and close ups at various different angles being popular. This allows the spectator to only get an understanding of certain aspects of the plot of the film; showing props such as the mobile phone, money and bloody fabric. Although the first shot is an extreme long shot at very high angle, this shot is still rather restricted, because although the spectator can establish the setting of the film, the minimalism and isolation of the location gives little information to the spectator about where this field is located.
Bordwell and Thompson
Story - One can assume that the story consists of the female perhaps driving to the hospital in order to get into labour safely. As the female was driving to the hospital the car may have broken down and therefore left her stranded in a deserted wheat field. The female calls/attempts to call the emergency services and eventually reaches them but realises she must give birth to her baby immediately. A bystander (male) who owns the field soon realises what is happening and attempts to help the woman, in the end successfully delivering the baby and keeping the both of them safe.
Plot - The plot then begins and allows the spectator to see a concealed identity of the female alongside a generic 'red-neck' character who appears rather unstable in both his facial expression and body language as well as his unkempt appearance, shown through his costume, hair and make up. The plot mostly allows the spectator to understand the male protagonist as an antagonist and shows him in a way that uses spectator positioning to form a hatred and instant uneasiness towards the male. Towards the end of the short film the plot takes a dramatic twist and shows the 'red-neck' male in a way that at first would not be perceived. The ideology of the male having murdered or tortured the woman changes into an understanding of the male helping the woman through her child birth. The entire plot suddenly makes sense in the spectators mind, whereas if the short film were to show the entire story the first impression of the male would not have came about.
Todorov
The 5 stages of Todorov's theory are quite hard to grant in this short film. Though as the short film takes on a linear structure it is possible for the theory to be applied. The reason for the difficulty behind the application is that only the plot is shown and therefore it is more difficult applying the theory to the plot than the story. But, by applying the theory to the plot, the first sector is the equilibrium. The equilibrium of the short film is the first shots of the setting and location, showing the field and the surrounding props and decor. The disruption is the diegetic screaming heard, which disrupts the normality of the quiet and alienated field. The disruption continues through to the knife prop being stabbed into the ground. The third sector, confrontation, takes place as the male protagonist attempts to hide what he has done, this is shown through use of the blanket prop and fast paced, anxious facial expression and body language. The resolution of the short film is shown just as the confrontation finishes, with the baby being held up by the male. The new equilibrium then follows which consists of the new life of the female with her baby.
Enigma codes - Screaming - Who is screaming and why are they screaming?Searching in boot of car - What is he searching for?
Mobile phone - Why is it making that noise? Whose phone is it? Who were they trying to call? Why?
The crow - Why is it making that noise? Why is it there? What has it seen?
These are just a few of the enigma codes used throughout the short film that leave the spectator questioning. These techniques have been used to keep the spectator guessing and keep them involved in the film; always asking 'why?'
Action codes - Knife - Signals that the female has been murdered.
The crow - Signals that the woman has been killed and is attempting to get a reaction from either the male or a passer by.
The blanket - Signals that the male is attempting to cover up what he has done.
The action codes in this film are very minimal as the point is to try and keep the audience guessing and assuming rather than providing information. The information given through these action codes give away almost obvious information. Also, as restricted narration is used the use of enigma codes are for more prominent within the short film rather than action codes.
Strauss
In the beginning, a binary opposition is very evident between the male and the female being represented as good and evil or innocent and guilty or protagonist and antagonist. Other binary oppositions could also be applied towards the end but have little relevance to the plot/story and are not as well suited as the aforementioned. For example, young and old, male and female, etc. Again, the representation of the male protagonist completely influences the binary oppositions created, with the idea of him being a murder, instantly he is labelled a villain, evil, etc. Accompanied with the female who sounds desperate in her scream and in pain, immediately spectators feel, sorrow and goodness in her.
Propp's theory can be applied here by looking at the character types. At first the male protagonist is shown as the villain and as an antagonist for the accusations made again him by the spectators. The props surrounding him and his impression are very much iconographic to a villain in a thriller film. The female, however, is not viewed as the hero but rather as an innocent female. Though as the film continues and the baby is shown the male's character alternates to a hero. Only then can the spectator view the female very slightly as the 'Princess' it could be interpreted as though the male has now won over the female. But this ideology is applied to the female purely as the most similar stock character to her character.
Vogler
Vogler's theory is very difficult to apply to this short film as the hero is unknown until the end. Although, if the spectator counts the male as a hero throughout the theory can be applied generally. The theory is very similar to Todorov's with the first sector 'ordinary world' relating to the equilibrium in Todorov's. The ordinary world or 'challenge' in the short film is hiding the body. With the challenge being followed by the hero obtaining something that will help in the quest, in this case, the blanket prop, assisting the male in hiding the body. The hero 'crossing the threshold' sector of the theory cannot be applied, although is rather similar to the confrontation in Todorov's theory. Where the hero faces his creates ordeal is alike to the resolution in Todorov's theory which is the baby being born and shown in the shot. The last stage is the hero returning to ordinary world, very much like the new equilibrium. The male now returns to the ordinary life after helping the woman give birth.
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