'Awake' - Weekly Film Analysis By: Unknown No comments

PRODUCED AND RELEASED IN: 2013

TYPE: Short film

GENRE: Mystery, Thriller

RUNNING TIME: 6.12

LANGUAGE: English

WRITTEN, DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY:

Danny Blackstock, Glen Cheng, Stephanie Bourgeois and Melinda NG

MUSIC BY: 

David Thulin

Luke Newman

KEY CAST MEMBERS:

Cameron James Phillips

THEMES:

Loneliness

Isolation

Death

Confusion

Self Discovery

NARRATIVE:

The narrative of this story is told through the use of a single protagonist and in fact only one actor until the very last few seconds of the film when we see the back of a second figure but no face or voice. I believe this is done in order to make the protagonist feel even more isolated and alone. This is also achieved by the choice of having some parts shot, handheld, from the protagonist's point of view which adds to the audiences increasing confusion and involvement with the film.

The narrative is also told in a linear structure, however the newspaper article shown at the end of the film does in some way take the audience back to before the beginning of the film by giving an explanation for the protagonists strange circumstances.

A hugely important part of the narrative is the fact that the plot is actually told to the audience through the use of first person narration and the acting in the film is almost entirely silent, with the exception of one word at the end of the film 'Grandad?'. This was effective in creating an alienating affect and in hindsight, did infact suggest the idea of the dead narrating a story, a technique which has been used many times before for example in the ABC reality drama series 'Desperate Housewives'.

This use of voiceover was also accompanied by three different non diegetic pieces of music which helped to enhance the confusing and rather upsetting mood of the piece.

KEY SCENES:

• When the protagonist wakes up as this is repeated several times throughout the film.
• When he finds the gnome. We can tell this is key as the moment is marked with a change in music.
• When we see the water pour out of the car as it is a clue to the mystery of the story.
• When he drops the car into the water as this is our second clue.
• When he sees 'the figure' for the first time. This moment is reflected by the transition from the previous 'steadicam' filming, to much shakier 'handheld camera' filming.
• When he tells the audience how long he has been alone for. This is shown by the way the music stops abruptly and a complete blackout is used, both of these create tension which emphasise the key moment in the film.
• When he sees his grandpa and the newspaper article and suddenly everything becomes clear. The realisation moment of the film.

COMPARABLES:

One main comparable within 'Awake' would be the obvious and effective use of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is used often within this film in order to hint to the audience the cause of the protagonists strange and mysterious consequences. For example, at 2.10 during the scene where the boy talks about 'the first time he attempted to drive' and then we see him open the car door and gallons of water pour out. This suggests not only the fact that a car was involved in his circumstances, but also water. This is shown again 3 minutes into the film when we watch the boy plunge a toy car in the fish bowl, filled with water. We find out later that both of these were foreshadowing our discovery of the protagonists car accident and subsequent death by drowning.

It is interesting to note the comparison of this with other short films I have watched which also use foreshadowing to suggest something to the audience. One example of this would be in the 2008 short film 'Ralph' written and directed by Alex Winkler. In the opening scene of this film, the protagonist is standing completely alone as he alights the train at Marseille train station, South France, a place which is usually buzzing with people. This isolation, foreshadows the long, lonely journey, both physical and emotional, that lies ahead of him.

Likewise in another film I have watched recently, 'My Brother the Devil' directed by Sally Hosaini, this use of foreshadowing is also present. For example, when Rash, one of the two main protagonists in the film drops a bullet in the sink and holds the loaded gun up against his reflection in the mirror, this is effective in foreshadowing the death and danger yet to come.