UMBILICAL| A SHORT FILM ANAYLIS

This one time in lesson..

 

 

We watched a short film called "Umbilical". It was titled, 'Best Animated Short Film' last year as well as achieving many other awards. Quite Honestly I must agree with the film critics and praise this short film. It has a powerful message with meaning and thought. Ultimately the film is presenting todays technological epoch in society. The message of this short film establishes a strong link between children and technology, where children sadly do not understand or acknowledge the creativity of their childhood as the impact of technology as dramatically changed what was seen before as a 'normal' childhood. 

 

 

Camerawork

 

• - There is a wide shot within the short film, when the animated character  gets shocked from the umbilical cord, this shows that the child is suffering inside, when they could be outside having fun with such an object as a ball which we identify in the short film.
• - A high angle of the child is established when the character realises they cant get outside, this shots implies technology and society has power upon generations, it is also used to convey the character as trapped and in a very vulnerable position.
• - Likewise, a low angle was used when the character was looking up at the window suggesting that outside is where the character wants to be, as the low angle allows the audience to see a reaction shot of the characters face (sad).
• - At the beginning of the short film, there was a close up of the crayons and the characters drawing on the floor, to imply she is alone and by herself, having no friends and therefore she has to make her own entertainment.
• - Also at the beginning of the short film, there was a panning shot to show the umbilical cord attached to the character head, which is significant in suggesting the main message to this short film.

 

Mise en Scene

• - The umbilical cord which is connected to the characters head, retains the child from going any further (especially from the window) suggesting that the character is getting held back from her happiness and what they love to do.
• - The drawing which covers the entire the floor, which implies she is all alone and has to make her own entertainment in order to save herself from getting bored by herself in the only room.
• - The packet of crayons are crushed as she walks back to the TV. This helps the audience to understand that technology now controls children's minds and also it is a symbol of the characters dreams have been crushed and will never come true.

 

Sound

 

• - The characters laughter when she is playing with the ball helps the audience to notice that she is enjoying herself and having fun with the ball as it is something the character has not yet experienced almost like 'cruelty' against children
• -The ball bouncing out the window is heightened which implies the characters happiness has now been taken from them, symbolising destruction and the inevitable fate of never being happy.
• - The loud music continues to get louder at the end of the short film when the TV is on which implies that technology is evil and destroys a child's fun, imagination and over all childhood.

 

Editing

 

• -Cuts help emphasise the different scenes within the short film.
• -The animation helps to reflect the child's imagination and it also helps reflect the main message also.
• -There is a fade out at the end of the short films which suggests children are 'stuck' or 'glued' to the TV and there is not going back from the new technology which is being invented.

 

My opinion

I personally think in addition to a range of different editing techniques such as the sound and mise en scene, the overall idea that the director has successfully created is that in todays society children are almost 'trapped' by the ever growing advances in new technology. He makes a significant juxtaposition in the lighting and sound when contrasted with the children playing outside. I believe the animation used in this film is very effective, it provokes the message of the childlike representations and what, actually society used to teach children to be creative on a piece of paper. I think it is a very clever way of producing a film however when referring to my short minute film this could be very difficult to achieve due to technology limitations in the class room.  However, even though the animated film may not work well right now with my task, some of the features in this short film are really good and I may use them when coming to create my own short film. I really like the deeper message, and that is something I would like to convey in my own film, I want to depict a strong and powerful message which my audience will think about throughout and after my film.