Slap

 

A teenage boxer searching for self-definition gives in to his true colours at the risk of losing everything. (IMDB)

• First shot - objectifying posters of women represent his public identity, he's trying to create the appearance that he's conforming to the societal norms of masculinity. Contrast to the other half of the frame where he is applying make-up, showing his true self. The poster quite literally splits the frame, denoting his split persona 
• Poster also perhaps show his idealized self and what he aspires to look like 
• Broken mirror - symbolizes his dual nature mental instability and also these two conflicting personas. in the shot he's split into three to signify 
• Combines the hefty masculinity of boxing and the delicacy of freeing himself through dresses and make-up
• Very gritty, British, social-realist tone to the film - enhanced by the run-down area: broken houses, grey sky, grey industrial towers, bricks, grey sky - bleak/brutalist 

 

 

 

1. Beginning - up to where Archie finds out middle - from him finding out, to the party. End - the whole party, where he shows his true self.

 

2. Masculine expectations, duality, self-expression, self-discovery, alienation, isolation 

 

3. Shattered mirror.

Hands - juxtaposition of boxing and the use of make-up - violence and delicacy.

 

4. Very gritty, British, social-realist tone to the film - enhanced by the run-down area: broken houses, grey sky, grey industrial towers, bricks, grey sky - bleak/brutalist 

 

5. Intesnfied music as he goes to party - represents his new-found confidence, shaky, handeld camera at the end where he is panicking - his fragmented mental state
6. There's a contrast between the static, observational shots and the rare moments of subjective cinematography, where we are alligned with his true emotions - at the end - handheld shaky movements, sense of conflict and duality

Shot-reverse-shot

7. Red lighting of the party,  he feels threatened, stands out against his blue dress. Sickly bathroom lighting. Otherwise, quite gritty and bleak. 
8. Natural, credible - we are invested in him. There's a great sense of vulnerability - realistic. 
9. Well-written - both are vulnerable and sympathetic 

Confrontational and physical - almost feels claustrophobic

Lipstick was used as a way to express her anger - that's the only way for her to make sense - item not important - chance to feel her feelings 

It's a mundane way into those feelings, but it's more realistic - people don't necessarily usually articulate their existential worries in conversation - show don't tell

 

Connor 

 

• Truthful to the human experience, he accurately depicts feelings of confusion - we often don't know how he's feeling. 
• A very physical performance, using it as an expression of himself - the delicacy of applying make-up and the release of all this confusion and frustration though boxing
• Juxtaposition of the first, more ordered fight and horrific second - his sense of individuality has been completely diminished by his friends - he can't vocalize these feelings, so he takes it out on the boy in the second fight

Resolution 

There is undoubtedly a sense of completeness at the end, but don’t feel good when the credits roll, rather this blunt and realistic ending leaves us with a social message to think about