SHORT FILM RESEARCH - OVER

SHORT FILM RESEARCH - OVER

OVER - JORN THRELFALL - 2015

Genre: Mystery/crime (documentary-esque)

Narrative:The propelling of the narrative for this short is relatively slow. The film is in reverse chronological order to slowly unravel the events which took place in order for a body to land on the roof of a car, seemingly from nowhere, in the middle of the night in a rural village. There is a shock ending when we find out the man had been a stowaway on a flight passing over and had fallen from underneath the plane. Her had been seeking refuge in the UK. The film states to be based on real events.

Audience:The audience is kept at a distance from the action throughout the film and we are not aligned with any characters. We are simply looking on as the police conduct their investigation. There is no dialogue during the film which means the viewer must try to piece the mystery together themselves, like the police are doing.

Microelements:

• Lack of dialogue
• Lack of non-diegetic sound
• Use of time stamps on screen to indicate the non-linear narrative 
• Text at the end to reveal what really happened and how it was based on real life events

Representation: The film sparks conversation about the growing problem the UK has with people trying to illegally and dangerously enter the country. As this story is based on true events, the plot twist at the end is even more shocking. We are onlookers onto this investigation which mirrors how the general public is usually so distanced from events like these.

Aspects I liked:

• The lack of techniques which attempted to increase tension. The film was created to be stark and as similar to how a real life investigation would take place. This shows how small events like this are in the grand-scheme of things, but it then addresses the bigger overall problem of immigration and illegal refugees the UK is facing
• I loved how the plot was slowly unveiled to us in pieces so the viewer was always kept on their toes
• Lack of camera movement and instead, the action took place inside one wide angle, long shot

Aspects I disliked:

• As the film contained no dialogue and characters, the narrative felt very long

Aspects I may develop:

• Time stamps on screen to highlight changes in time, especially when they are vital to plot
• How the plot is slowly unveiled to the viewer until they are shocked right at the end. I like how the viewer has to piece the information together themselves as this creates discussion and alternative opinions about the film