Disability Clip Analysis

The clip focuses on the issue of disability, presented through camera, mise-en-scene, sound and editing.

An establishing aerial shot is how the clip begins, this showing binary opposition. The audience is immediately presented with two contrasting individuals, Ben and David, this evident through further use of mise-en-scene. The bedroom demonstrated David’s isolation, his side of the room being smaller and dull, reflecting his mood and loneliness, allowing the audience to empathise with his character. In contrast to this, Ben’s side of the room has bright colours and toys, presenting Ben as a child-like character, the two completely contrasting each other.

Following this the audience is presented with a series of close up shots, establishing the two characters. David being shown with panning shots, suggesting he is a more able character, whereas Ben is presented through still close ups, suggesting his is less able. In the same scene, close ups of Ben eating show him to be a rather selfish character and close ups of David demonstrate his frustration and further allows the audience to empathise with David.

Further along the clip during a flashback of the two characters, David is up in a tree from a high angle shot, looking down upon Ben at a low angle shot, this clearly demonstrates David’s power and superiority over Ben. Within this shot, there is a kite stuck in a tree with David, this signifies David as being trapped with his constant companion, Ben, and even enjoyable activities do not seem enjoyable to David.

Focusing on the aspect of mise-en-scene, within this same scene, the audience is presented with a low angle shot of Ben smiling and eating an ice-cream. This immediately presents Ben as a childlike character who relies upon his brother to resolve situations due to his disability, here the audience empathises with David and is understanding to his frustration upon the situation that he has no control over.

During the montage of Ben and David at the bus stop, it is evident that the bus stop is dirty and boring, this having clear connotations of David’s dull mood, in contrast to his brother who seems to be oblivious to the environment around him as long as he is entertained, further presenting him as a character who needs to be looked after and have constant attention.

The role of empathy is switched later in the clip. The audience is presented with a scene to which David abandons his role of looking after his brother and Ben is left to look after himself. During this scene, use of close ups on Ben highlight his distress, this causing the audience to empathise with Ben. Following from this scene, the audience is presented with a mid-shot of Ben on his journey home to which he is holding on to the bar, signifying his inability to feel safe and secure, in complete contrast to the young school children behind Ben within the shot, fighting and very able to vent for themselves.

Throughout the whole clip, there is a narrator, David, who engages the audiences and brings them to further understanding through the use of voice over. The voice over causes the audience to further empathise with David as a character as they are able to understand the situation to which he is in and how he feels about it. There is use of contextual sound, this being jolly music in situations where David is frustrated, contrasting the story.

Focusing on the aspect of editing, there is constant use of continuity editing throughout the clip. The audience is also presented with a montage of Ben, showing his dependency on David and highlighting David’s frustration.