This film uses conventions of romantic tragedy genres seen in works like Romeo and Juliet. It challenges conventions through its setting of a typical family home with an industrial backdrop parallel to the main character's turmoil. Iconography includes a whiskey bottle hinting at depression and empty medicine packets foreshadowing suicide. Narrative is driven by Levi Strauss' concept of binary opposites showing past happiness versus present sadness through flashbacks. The visual style uses realistic, handheld shots influenced by European indie films to give an independent feel.
2. In what ways do your media products us, develop or challenge forms & conventions of real media products? Genre: Romantic tragedy, not dissimilar to Romeo and Juliet.
3. Setting Conventions- Typical family home, kitchen looks like the kitchen of a young couple. Messiness of kitchen adds a touch of dark humor that husbands need women to look after them Whisky blocks camera and paracetemol in background hints towards what is to come. Messiness in background subtly mirrors protagonists inner turmoil Images of family show main theme of film
4. Challenges- Scenic setting but with an industrial backdrop runs as a parallel to main characters inner turmoil, use of pathetic fallacy with sunny weather but passing clouds. Industrial backdrop Scenic foreground and emotional action
5. Iconography Conventions- Whisky is typical prop to show angst and depression and overdosing on paracetamol is typical home made method. Dying in car crash caused by being on the phone is hard hitting and brings in technology as a theme Whisky is typical prop of someone in turmoil Empty packets hint towards the suicide Handheld shot from back of car from pov of child is hard hitting On the phone shows technology as the killer
6. Challenges- Tree has changed from a beacon of hope to a sign of inevitable death, trees usually shows vibrance and vitality we have challenged this by linking it to death and devastation. In this flashback the tree denotes a happier time however in present time it has turned into something else, it draws on connotations of much more negative emotions and is inevitably where our protagonist ends his life
7. Narrative / theme Conventions-Use of Levi Strauss’ binary opposites showing past happiness and present sadness through use of flashbacks is the driving narrative of the film. This still from the film shows a much happier time Opposed to this one which shows a much more turbulent time in our protagonists life
8. Visual / audio style Conventions- Realist style, use of handheld shots to give the film and independent European feel. This still shows a handheld shot from the pov of a baby in the back seat, this Is a really evocative image and we took a lot of inspiration for shots like this from European indie films like; The sons room, run lola run and Festen.