Media Studies Block 1: 'Silent Things' Analysis

Analysis (Representation)

This film is set in either Cornwall or Devon. The setting is on a beach with cliffs in the background, and the time of year is Spring.

Disability is a reccuring theme throughout this film. We know that the male character has Asperges Syndrome while the girl in the picture below has either the same condition or another related illness.

Both characters are seen to be isolated in one way or another. The MCU above shows the girl looking on at the beach. She says very little throughout the film and we have no idea of her relationship to either the male character and his friend.
Asperges Syndrome affects peoples ability to socialise and communicate with other people. They have limited interests and this is apparent from the beginning. The male character is around 20 years of age and is seen flying a kite. This is perhaps childish behaviour, another trait of his illness.

Power and Status is very unclear in this film. With only three main characters involved, it is hard to tell who has a greater status. However, the friend of the male character, is a girl who isn't disabled. She has plans of catching a ferry to France. We can tell from this that she is sophisticated and very mature for her age.
As the setting changes to the boarding of the ferry, we get to witness the male characters illness and how this affects his life. The image below shows him being questioned by police. He is vividly distressed and frustrated and the use of dark colour and a LS allow the audience to step into his shoes.

Towards the end of the film, we again see the male character isolated. Here he is trying to amend his kite. Later on the other disabled character walks in. There is litle communication between them and we have no understanding of why she is there. That is perhaps a way the director has used these two in particular to show that they are affected by a disorder.