film analysis: r'ha (short film)

8/10/2019 Film Analysis: R'ha (Short Film)

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Wilhelmina Denness

Characters

There are only two characters that were actually introduced to in this short. Initially we hear

the robot first and then we finally see the alien.

In the close up shot on the left we see the aliens face in

high key lighting, which gives us the best view of thecharacter. When we realise the character has been

captured/ held against his will and additionally

punished if he doesnt give the answers the robot

desires the most, we get the reading this alien is the

protagonist. When we have a flashback where he

describes what has happened to him using a voice-

over we find out he protected worlds which clarifies

this reading. Moreover the protagonist, being ivory, with small blue eyes and an unusual

appearance, shows us he is conforming to the alien stereotype. Furthermore, the fact he is

coloured ivory, connoting beauty and innocence this strengthens our reading he is the

protagonist.

The antagonist of this film is the machine/robot. We

learn this because we know the robot is torturing the

alien. Like all typical sci-fi films, there are a set of

conventions which are almost always followed:

protagonist vs. antagonist; you cant have a protagonist

without an antagonist. In this medium shot of the robot,

we see hes entirely black, constructed from metal and

wires. The red lights give the impression that the robot

has a face. Red connotes anger, danger and violence.

Black similarly connotes death and antagonism. This

instantly establishes that this is the antagonist of the film.

Settings/locations

Location is a really fundamental aspect in this film as we can use it to establish the genre. In this

case, establishing shots of space and planets different to

our own, have featured in this narrative which gives the

reading that this a science-fantasy film which will

follow a narrative based on a dispute over planet

domination (just as is seen in films such as Star Wars

and Star Trek).

The first location were aware of can be seen in this

extra-long shot of the room where the alien is being

held hostage while the machine/robot stares on at

him. We can see the room is circular, built to hold focus

on the middle where we see the alien is pinned to a

contraption. A track runs around the edge of the room.

The room is also very dark, further emphasising the

darkness of the antagonists motives.

In the flashback there are several location shots of space

as well as unknown, completely fabricated worlds. I took

this screenshot of one location and just after I took this


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Wilhelmina Denness

we see the highest building fall down. In the shot are several buildings implying there is some

sort of habitation on the planet. As this is completely made up we can instantly assume that this

shot shows an alternate universe/ planet, thus informing us that this is a sci-fi film.

Another final establishing shot which helps attest to

our reading that this is a sci-fi film is this extreme

long shot of the aliens ship leaving the place he was

captured. The use of the clouds and intensively

bright light tells us that the alien must be on a ship

in the sky. The fact hes coming out of a larger,

metallic ship helps to visually show and confirm the

fact the alien has finally escaped from the antagonist.

Themes

Science fantasy.

Genre IconographySome of the most conventional icons associated with sci-fi films includes futuristic weapons,

space and futuristic buildings. Alternatively the iconography can be as simple as torn clothes

and dirty make-up (apocalyptic). In this short the film very closely follows the conventions of an

alien film whereby the iconography associated with it is new technology. Another genre-specific

piece of iconography includes new aircraft, such as spaceships.

Camera Shot/Angle/Movement

Throughout the film a variety of camera movements have been used, including tracking,

panning, tilting and zooming, all of which have been used either to sustain continuity in the film

and thus verisimilitude, and/or leads us on to a significant point in the narrative (e.g. zoomingin on the aliens eye before a flashback). Likewise shot has been used to convey different

meanings to the audience also.

In this shallow focus shot of the alien we can see the

machine behind him. The camera pans to the left

eventually as the machine moves around the room to

face the alien. The first thing we hear is the robot so

when we are first introduced to the alien we assume

the alien is talking to himself. When we register that in

fact two characters are speaking it leaves us to

question where the other character could be. In this

shot, the antagonist appears even more threatening

even though its a machineand we cant exactly be

afraid of something with no real face. This is because he is hiding behind the protagonist the

way a villain lurks in the darkness, waiting to strike.


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Wilhelmina Denness

Another shot I thought was important to note is

this medium close up shot used as a way of

sho

win

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where

the

alien is looking (much like the way eye-line-match

is used). Immediately we know that he is being

held hostage, giving us the reading that this

character must be either someone whos

committed a heinous crime or a hero whos been

captured by the villain. The latter, as we find out only moments later, is the direct case.

This medium close up, two-person shot is really important, not only because it shows us the two

main characters of this film but it is also very conventional of movies to create a shot of theprotagonist and antagonist of a film facing one another, as opponents. Going back to my point

about how we inferred the characters could be split into the categories, antagonist and

protagonist, this shot shows very clearly that these two characters are from different races, with

different beliefs because of how they stare at one another as if ready to fight. The fact that the

machine/ robot is actually free whilst the alien is tied up onto the metal contraption emphasises

the divide between the two characters, therefore setting us up for an interesting film where we

see the conflict of antagonist and protagonist forces.

Editing

This film is really effective at using editing techniques to put across different messages to the

audience. For one, when the alien is being tortured by the machine/robot, the camera zooms

into the aliens eye before we are given a flashback and the alien becomes the narrator (voice

over). This zoom implies we are going back in time because it creates the effect that we are

exploring the characters memories.

Slow motion is also used to dramatize the scene

when the alien is finally able to escape. As we see

him slowly lifting into the air to jump on the

machine, dramatic effect is created because of how

slow motion is used to emphasise the aliens

movement, making us wary as to whether he will

actually be able to defeat the antagonist. This is

also very conventional of sci-fi films, where sound

and shot are used to create suspense for the

audience and keep them on the edge of their seats

when we are still unaware if the protagonist will succeed with their plans for saving their world.

Sound

I decided to comment on the first 2 minute of sound because of how much was compacted into

this short film. I will mention, in more detail, the sounds used alongside the credits later on. For

now, I can say that at the start of the film incidental music is used when the credits appear

before the first line fades out as a sound bridge of the antagonists voice comes in. As soon as theshot of the alien appears a short boom non-diegetic sound effect can be heard which is used to


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Wilhelmina Denness

dramatize the situation in which the alien finds himself in. Music doesnt play through this scene

however the dialogue between the two characters overwhelms the scene so the absence of

music isnt a bad choice. As the alien looks at how hes been tied up there is the diegetic sound

of metal being tugged at by the protagonist which helps to sustain the verisimilitude of the film.

Speaking of realism, diegetic sound is used when the machine/robot moves around the room to

face the alien which enables the audience to feel involved in the film because the sound helps tobring the scene to life.

Although we arent directly aware of the machines intentions for the alien, from the use of the

computers loading sound effectwhich increases in speed and volume, tension and suspense is

built which leads us to believe that what the machine is intending to do to the alien is something

bad. In fact he is tortured by being electrocuted. A dull thump is used quickly before the diegetic

sound of passing electricity plays, instantly causing us to recognise this as being electrocution.

When the charge is stopped, deep, resonating non-diegetic music is used. Characteristically, it

reflects the aliens mood as the music carries undertones of anger. Just before another

electricity current is passed through the aliens body we hear diegetic sound similar to the

sound found in tube stations when the carriage moves off quickly. Just as with the last soundeffect used before the alien was last struck with the current, the sound increases in speed and

volume, yet again causing us to tense but this time feel fearful for the alien as we know what will

happen to him. The aliens back hits the back of the contraption hes tied to before the sound of

electricity cuts in once more before fading out quickly when we have a flashback. During this

time, slow, typically gravitating non-diegetic music (the type typically found in sci-fi films) plays

behind a voice-over. Spaceship sound effects and explosions are used here on. Its easy to

identify from this that the movie is based in the future; thus it is a sci-fi film.

Lighting

Something which is very typical of sci-fi films is the use of high-key lighting which creates a

futuristic atmosphere. This is indeed the case for this film however we also find that low key

lighting has been used in the room where the protagonist has been captured. This creates a

foreboding and negative mood which is used as a way of emphasising the protagonists feeling

of helplessness.

Typography

Whilst the credits come in both at the start and end

of the film, the title appears also at the start of this

short, which is conventional of all films. A static non-

diegetic sound effect is used when the first credit

comes in. This fades out. The typography is formal,white and positioned centre right. Its also quite

small to read. Its hard to decipher what the genre of

this film could be, just from looking at this

typography however because the white contrasts

with the black rather than, for example, having the

credits over a moving shot, we can infer that the film will be about something dark-

antagonistic. This provides the reading that the plot will revolve around a narrative focusing on

a group of antagonists and protagonists (as it is conventional for films to have both-you cant

have one without the other).


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film analysis: r'ha (short film)

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