About A Girl: Analysis
- 40108350
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
[Percival, UK, 2001]
Narration/Narrative: The film is narrated by a girl, who were are not told the name of, as she is walking along the canal. She tells the spectators of her dreams of becoming a rich & famous singer but this aspiration is juxtaposed with her current working-class background; we are shown glimpses of her domestic life in urban restaurants, public restaurants and her home. As spectators we are immediately aligned with her as she is our guiding voice. In terms of the narrative, we are being shown a story through a non-linear plot as there are flashbacks present. The girl will be talking but will be interrupted by her own flashbacks in order to give the audience a better understanding on what the girl is talking about. Moreover, the spectators are having an active experience. There is a binary opposition presented too, with the girl being a good person while her parents are bad due to their mistreatment towards her. Additionally, the sudden twist at the end reveals the girl throwing a bag into the canal, in this bag holds a baby that was produced through CGI post production. This evokes an enigma code of whos baby is it? when was it born?
Key elements: The camera is hand held when we are walking/talking with the protagonist which gives it an authentic feel. The sound is diegetic with no voiceovers but only the narration from the girl, there are emphasised sounds of nature around her as well as the canal. The editing is rather harsh which could mirror the harsh nature our protagonist inhibits as a member of the working class in 2000s UK. The film is set in Manchester during the 2000s so the mise-en-scene is very realistic which again heightens the films overall authenticity. This allows the spectator to feel really immersed in the environment.
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