Arran : Funeral For a Friend, Roses For the Dead

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsaamq0E964

First of all this is a music video and not a short film however I felt it followed the same trends and narrative as one so have decided to analyze it. I feel the editing techniques and setting are far more relevant to the area we would be filming in than some of the other videos we have been shown.

When asked to analyze a social realist film i instantly thought of this video despite having not seen it for about 3 years. I feel the urban setting, grey skies and grainy flashbacks. The story is a sad one using parallel editing to tell the story of a boy named Arron and his mother after his suicide. Teenage suicide is a hard hitting subject and a big issue these days as numbers are higher than ever.

I especially like the way the stories run parallel so we presume they are happening at the same time, but when we realize what the Arron is doing we then understand his mum is stripping his room and sorting his stuff while mourning after his death. This is helped along by some great close ups to reveal facial expression. The tracking shots put emphasis on Arrons journey which i presumed was just back from school the first time. The atmosphere, absence of bold color and setting really add the the anxed vibe of the video.

Set in Wales there are obvious typical British stereotypes. The boys who shunt Arron on his way home are wearing hoodies, one with his hood up, the other with a shaved head and we are encouraged to dislike them through their actions towards the character we are following. Time is slowed slightly when Arron crosses the two boy’s then carries on normal speed when he is past. This ads climax and tension.

The contrast between fast panning on Arron and then the slow still shots of his mother are really effective at creating two different atmospheres and there is a pan outwards from Arron when he sits to think just before he jumps. This implies loneliness and desperation as well as peace in the vast empty white floor of the building

I find this piece very inspiring because some of the shots i would not have considered before are used to great effect. I also like how simple the video is, it tells a story to great effect using nothing more than 4 actors, everyday costume, a room, a rooftop and a pavement. This shows as a group we can create something great without making our film too complex.