Task 2.1: Short Films Comparison

'Wasp’ and ‘Gasman’ Comparison Essay

A short film is a form a media used to convey a message to a general audience. These often depict common aspects of life and show us certain situations through the perspectives of those living them. This is mainly used to give a sense of understanding of what may be going through their heads that have gotten them in these scenarios. The message of short films is very dependent on those watching it as it never gives a direct message but rather leaves you to have a think about what the director was trying to say.

To truly understand short films you must not view it from your own perspective but rather from the view the director is trying to portray. The films often touch upon controversial subjects that are very based on the opinion on those watching these films. For example, in ‘Wasp’ a very financially unstable single mother of four children is shown going through the struggles of trying to live her life in a way that perhaps a single mother shouldn’t be. Most people would straight away express the opinion that the mother should have her children taken away. However, others who may have been in any circumstance that comes close to that shown in the film may justify the situation.

In this film specifically, the director focuses on how the decisions the mother makes affects her children. Although many of the things she does seem like acts of negligence, she also has a side of her that loves and cares for her children. While taking away the children from this mother may lead them to a better life, would the emotional scarring of losing the mother they grew up with be more important? One may argue either way however, I believe that if the mother is not willing to reach out for help and make rational decisions that will affect the children's lives positively then they should be placed in a better home with a family that has the resources to take care of them. The ending of the film shows the resolution to the mother's life when “David” decides to take care of them and act as a father figure to the children. This may be seen as a reason not to take the children into care as the family's situation may change from day to day.

Meanwhile, in the film Gasman mise-en-scene is used to show that even with financial stability and the resources to provide a happy life for a child you might still find yourself in emotional struggles that from an outsider's perspective may not be as big as the family's issues in 'Wasp' but may impact the children just as much as instability would.

Camera shots in 'Gasman', such as this close up of the little girl, are used to portray what is going through the girl's head with her actions. Towards the beginning of the film the camera emphasizes on the father's importance to her as the possibly the most important person in her life and who she loves the most. As the film progresses the girl runs into inner conflict and the camera specifically focuses on her jealousy and inner anger as she slowly feels as if she's losing her father's attention.

Both directors portray in their short films their own perspectives of childhood and what conflicts may arise within the lives of children. Andrea Arnold is very outspoken about her childhood saying that she came from a struggling family with young, separated parents which very much relates to what the children in 'Wasp' are going through. While Lynne Ramsay's goal is to send a message as to how a parent's actions directly affects their children by showing a situation caused by the parents' actions from the perspective of the child rather than that of the adult.