This essay will explore the use of narrative structure (story and plot, Story refers to the dramatic action as it might be described in chronological order and the plot refers to how the story is told) in 'This is England' and the use narrational devices (how a story is told through flashbacks, voice overs, open endings) in 'Trainspotting'.
The use of narrative structure in This is England refers to the story - the action of the film and how it is shown in chronological order and in a linear way, and it also refers to the plot - which is how the story is told. The opening sequence of This is England begins with Shaun (the protagonist) cycling on his bike after finishing school, this parallels to the ending of the film when Shaun - now with a shaved head - is again cycling his bike. The difference is his appearance is a representation of the passing of time. The film is an example of the Equilibrium theory : at the beginning there is a state of symmetry and there are no disruptions but as the film progresses the antagonist (Combo) is introduced and he begins to display his national front beliefs on the Falklands war and his racist views. The recognition of Combo's beliefs begin to divide Woody and Shaun as Shaun's dad died in the Falklands. The climax of the film is when Combo beats Milky up because of his ethnicity and this easily leads Shaun to be disheartened and he comes to recognise that he is being led down the wrong path. In This is England there isn't a resolution, as the ending shows Shaun throwing away his England flag which may only represent that his views on Combo and his own racist remarks are no longer there. Also This is England has a dual narrative, firstly when Shaun meets Woody and he instantly positions himself as his 'father figure'. The second part of the narrative is when Combo replaces Woody as Shaun's 'father figure' and within this second half more racism and violence is exposed because of his character. This is England is left open-ended, as the spectator doesn't get a clear indication of what has happened to Milky, or whether Shaun rejoins Woody or if he remains isolated.
Narrational devices are used in Trainspotting, this refers to how the story is told through flashbacks , open endings, voice overs, flashbacks, flashfowards and the use of real footage.The opening sequence sets the scene as Renton and Spud are seen fleeing from the police, a voiceover of Renton plays over the action and the music , he says "choose life, choose a career, choose a family [...]" he says this sarcastically to suggest he doesn't care about these things but instead he cares about drugs and he chooses drugs over these, but by the end of the film he aspires to have all these things in his life and says it sincerely. His narration is used to bring a lighter tone in contrast to the seriousness of the topics and the brutal imagery which could represent how they have become desensitised by the use of drugs.Imagery is used in Transporting for example when a close up shot of a needle Renton injects himself with shows the blood flow back into the needle, this could indicate the biological harm that the drugs are causing but also could be a representation of how it is sucking the life out of him. This imagery could also foreshadow his overdose later on in the film and how HIV affects his friends as the transmission of blood through needles is how it is spread to other people who share them and this is also how Tommy dies. The closing sequence shows Renton with the bag of money at the end of the film crossing the bridge and repeating his 'choose life speech' which shows his views of the importance of life has changed and now he lists all the objects again which he aspires to have in his life, this imagery could also suggest that he is starting over and indicates a new beginning.
No comments:
Post a Comment