Film language essay

Film: City of God

In this essay I will be analysing the trailer from the movie city of god. I will also be focusing on the characters facial expressions and how they are portrayed in the trailer because the trailer is introducing the film and it is vital for the audience to acknowledge the narrative of the story or grasp the basic storyline in order to understand the film.

The opening extracts begins with flashes of medium shots at a fast pace, to show that the film will contain lost of events along with the music in the background which is also at a fast pace. The use of the voiceover which is briefly introducing the film allows the audience to grasp the narrative of the story because without the voiceover the audience would lose the narrative of the story. The use of camera work within the film is intriguing because it grabs the audience’s attention. For example, 18 seconds into the trailer there is a close-up shot of a happy girl then the clip fades from her, (which the clip also has top-lighting) to a deprived area with low-key lighting and a long shot. The contrasts used with both lightings, perhaps could show two-separate lives of people perhaps? Because, by the use of contrasting camera angles and lighting this technique is an ideal way to grasp the attention of the audience and make them predict what will happen next and by using this technique the audience are able to become tense.

In addition, the sound being played is an ideal feature in the film because the sound helps to add the scenes action and create suspense, mystery or excitement to the audience. In the beginning on the trailer the audience can see that there are aspects of parallel sounds being used to go with the scene where the people are dancing to samba music. In addition, the use of parallel sound within that particular scene is effective because the audience are unaware of what may happen next. Moreover, there is some sort of distinctive deep sound along with the samba music being played which creates suspense and mystery because the audience can hear the unusual sound being played therefore the audience are aware that something may happen because of the continuous background sound. The director has chosen to use this particular technique because he perhaps wanted the tension and the attention of the film to flow and be sustained. In addition, the effect on the audience is that it keeps them entertain and in suspense.

Half way during the trailer there is a Montage of where the people are dancing and the consecutive shots of the people dancing and the photo shots of people on the beach emphasising how good of an area it is and the use of voice over acted as a narrator. Afterwards, the clip fades and the shot turns in to a medium shot of a boy who carries a gun and shoots and the clip changes to ‘Based on a true story’ which creates suspense and the director using this type of technique is allowing the audience to acknowledge what type of events taking place in addition, the director may wanted to create a sense of shocking effects on the audience when witnessing a young boy holding a gun and also as the film is based on a true story the effect on the audience is much greater. Moreover, as I have said at this point the use of voice over is particularly effective as these techniques enable the audience to acknowledge what will happen next.

The pace of the trailer itself at a fast pace and slows down when the most important part of the narrative is shown to when the young photographer is shown to the audience which helps reinforce the narrative and by the pace slowing down to a medium close-up of the boy to help the audience acknowledge the main character and the narrative that is taking place, this again is also where the use of the voiceover creates a dramatic effect and adding to the seriousness of the film as the film is based on a true story.

The focus of the main character is pinpointed in the film through the uses of medium-close up, tracking shots where we the audience are made to feel that they are directly involved in the trailer therefore, the audience acknowledge that the film will consist of powerful scenes in order for the director to sustain the audiences attentions. I think that the director used camera movements such as pan and tracking so the audience are made to feel to witness the movie and feel as if they are in that situation, and that is what makes tracking shots effective.

In conclusion the most effective feature of the trailer was the editing because the uses of cutting the clip into three aloud the audience to acknowledge what was going to be in the film, in addition the use of point of view shots at 0.32 where the camera was looking through the lenses was an effective feature where the director made the audience feel as if they were there which creates excitement by allowing the audience to see what the character is seeing in addition, the editing coinciding with the music and the voice over where effectively used because the narrative being told to the audience through the trailer was excellent and the most fascinating feature was that although the fast pace of the trailer was hard for the audience to keep up the voice over slowed the pace down for the audience as they where able to understand the narrative.