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Textual Analysis

Textual Analysis

Bullet Boy

Sound

The only music heard within the opening sequence is soft piano , which creates an emotional atmosphere for when he gets out of prison. It also could connote the free felling he is now experiencing as he recently got released from prison , piano music can often be described as light an airy this could connote that the man thinks he is trouble free and has no worries now that he is out of prison.

This music is quietened or stopped completely when there is dialogue. This helps to emphasise the importance of what the characters are saying, but also could suggest that the character is trying to stop himself from becoming emotional. The melodic score gives the opening sequence an emotional tone but when it stops it connotes that the main character Is trying to distance himself from these emotions and trying to retain his strong reputation.

When the characters are in the countryside there are diegetic sounds of cars , birds and cows , this shows that they are in the middle of nowhere that it is a real life situation. This diegetic sound presents an binary opposition within the opening sequence. The sound of ambient sounds of the countryside present the natural element to the environment that he is now in , this is in contrast to the desolate prison that he has just been released from.

Mise-en-scene

https://marciepettitt.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/bullet-boy-2.jpgClothing: we see the main character wearing a tracksuit , this represents the area he comes from. Tracksuits are an iconography of the working class. So this is effective in telling the audience something about his character and background. Before we even hear any dialogue. This is following a convention that social realisms involve characters that are in the working class.

Main Character

When in the car there is a close up on his face which allows the audience to witness his

emotions after being released form prison. This is the first sense of real emotion that the audience get to see from the main character as he has been portrayed as a tough guy so far. This close up begins to reveal to the audience that this strong face might just be just an act. Further more the character is looking out into the city whilst inside a car , this could connote that he feels trapped by his record and is constantly look down upon by the society around him.

The First look we get of the main character is when he is being released from prison , this gives the audience an idea of his background/ character as the prison iconography connotes that he has an under-privileged background and it also shows the representation of a stereotypical aggressive male. This could also be seen to be portraying typical path of a working class males life.

The character also acts as though he doesnt need anyone to help him , this is evident in the long shot where he is standing alone and away from his friend and brother. This attitude seen within the character is conventional of a social realism film as the ,as characters within them are often strong and very independent. This belief that he doesnt need any one is further emphasised by the dialogue what are you doing here? when he reaches his friend.

Other Characters

https://newbyjqegs.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/mid-shot-bullet-boy.jpgThe little Brother:He is shown to look up to his brother , as he is desperate to see him , which is represented by him hiding in the boot. When the two are talking on the bonnet of the car , he imitates his older brother by using a piece of straw to act like a cigarette , this image connotes that the little brother will perhaps follower his older sibling in conforming to the stereotypical life of a working class male.

The Friend:He greets the main character normally as they dont want to ruin their reputation as being tough by letting their emotions show , this shows the stereotypical view of working class males. We are shown this reputation of them through the way that they communicate with colloquial language and the fact that the main character is being released from prison. Statistically more black males go to prison (reality) which has caused the public to starts scrutinizing the police on grounds of racism (context). What the producer is trying to do within this film is humanize the black male and make the audience empathize with him. ( opinion of the producer)

Shot Types and Editing

Quick sharp cuts are used when the friend hears someone in the boot , this connotes the desperation and excitement the younger brother feels when going to meet his older sibling. Basic cuts keep the audience focused on the story and make it more realistic and suggest that picking up a friend from prison is an everyday occurrence. The editing also creates an intellectual pleasure for the audience as they are trying to work out who is in the boot.

In the first car scene you only the side of the friend's head as it is an over the shoulder shot , this creates a enigma surrounding the character who is driving. Further more the over the shoulder shot connote his commitment and focus upon picking up his friend from prison.

Why and how long was the main character in prison?

Who is the girl he was asking questions about? Girlfriend?

Did his friend and/or brother visit him whilst in prison?

What's the relationship like between himself and his brother/rest of his family? ( why werent the rest of his family there to pick him up?)

Questions Raised

Conventions of Social Realism Found Within Bullet Boy

The lighting is kept natural which makes it more realistic for the audience.

This also occurs with the camera shots , these are kept simple so its more realistic for the audience.

The film is set in a council estate within a run down city. The audience associate this with the family not having much money , and where violence crime an drugs usually occur. Also follows the convention of social realism films being about the working class.

The iconography of the prison is shown in the second shot and therefore shows that the film will be dealing with crime , this is one of the main themes found within social realisms.

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