Textual Analysis ITextual Analysis I

Two Cars, One NightTwo Cars, One Night

Two Cars, One NightTwo Cars, One Night

Production InformationProduction Information

• Production Company: Production Company: Blueskin Films Ltd., Blueskin Films Ltd., Defender Films, New Zealand Film CommissionDefender Films, New Zealand Film Commission

• Directed by:Directed by: Taiki Waititi Taiki Waititi

• Executive Producer: Executive Producer: Vanessa AlexanderVanessa Alexander

• Producers: Producers: Catherine Fitzgerald, Ainsley GardinerCatherine Fitzgerald, Ainsley Gardiner

• Film Editor: Film Editor: Owen Ferrier-KerrOwen Ferrier-Kerr

• Runtime: Runtime: 13 minutes13 minutes

Narrative Analysis – Narrative Analysis – Set-UpSet-Up

• Two cars are parked next to each other outside Two cars are parked next to each other outside a place marked “HOTEL” (likely a pub).a place marked “HOTEL” (likely a pub).– Children left on their own in a car for extended Children left on their own in a car for extended

periods of time – problems within the social periods of time – problems within the social community, child mistreatmentcommunity, child mistreatment

• Protagonist problems:Protagonist problems:– Young child, accompanied by his companionYoung child, accompanied by his companion– Sees an older girl within the other carSees an older girl within the other car– Pretends to drive/puts seat back to impress the girlPretends to drive/puts seat back to impress the girl– Abusive towards the girl/swearing/gesturesAbusive towards the girl/swearing/gestures– Girl responds with abusive language and gesturesGirl responds with abusive language and gestures

Narrative Analysis - Narrative Analysis - DevelopmentDevelopment• Girl is playing with her ringGirl is playing with her ring• Interactions:Interactions:

– A man on his bike asks both the protagonist and girl a A man on his bike asks both the protagonist and girl a question, before cycling offquestion, before cycling off

– Protagonist exchanges a nod with a man driving by in Protagonist exchanges a nod with a man driving by in another caranother car

• Protagonist’s further problems:Protagonist’s further problems:– Gets out of his car, goes over to the girls carGets out of his car, goes over to the girls car– Acts like a policemen towards the girl/tries to make Acts like a policemen towards the girl/tries to make

himself look older/tries to act coolhimself look older/tries to act cool– Girl and boy exchange names and agesGirl and boy exchange names and ages– Protagonist’s companion is unresponsive/untroubled to Protagonist’s companion is unresponsive/untroubled to

the protagonist’s rude remarks towards him/ perhaps the protagonist’s rude remarks towards him/ perhaps protagonist is trying to eliminate the competition of his protagonist is trying to eliminate the competition of his companion from the girl.companion from the girl.

Narrative Analysis - Narrative Analysis - ResolutionResolution• Resolution to the problems:Resolution to the problems:

– Girl and protagonist are sitting closer Girl and protagonist are sitting closer togethertogether

– Girl feels the boy is trustworthy, allows him to Girl feels the boy is trustworthy, allows him to hold her ringhold her ring

– Protagonist is given the ring by the girl so he Protagonist is given the ring by the girl so he will remember herwill remember her

– The girl’s driver gets in the car, and they The girl’s driver gets in the car, and they drive off, leaving the protagonist staring after drive off, leaving the protagonist staring after herher

Technical Analysis - Technical Analysis - CameraCamera• Camera fly's through the dark clouds at the Camera fly's through the dark clouds at the

beginning of the short at an intense pace.beginning of the short at an intense pace.

• Limited use of different camera shots/anglesLimited use of different camera shots/angles– Signifies the low budget of the filmSignifies the low budget of the film

• Continuous shot-reverse-shots of protagonistsContinuous shot-reverse-shots of protagonists

• Continued close-ups of the protagonist and girlContinued close-ups of the protagonist and girl– Signifies their importance as the protagonistsSignifies their importance as the protagonists

Technical Analysis - Technical Analysis - SoundSound

• Soundtrack interludes with diegetic sound of the Soundtrack interludes with diegetic sound of the wind at the beginningwind at the beginning

• No dialogue exchanged between any characters No dialogue exchanged between any characters until two minutes into the film.until two minutes into the film.

• Dialogue begins at an infrequent pace between Dialogue begins at an infrequent pace between the two protagoniststhe two protagonists– Signifies their current non-existent connectionSignifies their current non-existent connection

• Dialogue becomes more frequent between themDialogue becomes more frequent between them– Now signifies their existent connectionNow signifies their existent connection

• Pace quickens as each scene changesPace quickens as each scene changes– Shows difference in timeShows difference in time

• Sound of drunken dialogue/singing heard in the Sound of drunken dialogue/singing heard in the background, coming from the pub, again background, coming from the pub, again highlights the disregard parents show towards highlights the disregard parents show towards the safety of their childrenthe safety of their children

Technical Analysis – Technical Analysis – Mise-en-Mise-en-SceneScene

• Set designSet design– Black-and-white film – suggests the film Black-and-white film – suggests the film

is old-fashioned (back when black and is old-fashioned (back when black and white film tape was used)white film tape was used)

• LightingLighting– Low-keyLow-key

• PropsProps– Ring, bookRing, book

Technical Analysis - Technical Analysis - EditingEditing

• Fast-paced editingFast-paced editing– Sped-up actionSped-up action

•Exemplified through fast movement of Exemplified through fast movement of cars/people -used to signal the passing of timecars/people -used to signal the passing of time

•Also used to signify the changes in attitude Also used to signify the changes in attitude both protagonists feel towards each otherboth protagonists feel towards each other

•They go from being rude towards each other They go from being rude towards each other to then being extremely friendly, sociable and to then being extremely friendly, sociable and even hinting towards feeling love between one even hinting towards feeling love between one anotheranother

ThemesThemes

• LoveLove

• RomanceRomance

• ConflictConflict

IssuesIssues

• EmotionEmotion

• ConnectivityConnectivity

• Abuse (verbal)Abuse (verbal)

• Child neglectChild neglect