Two & two is a short film written and directed by Babak Anvarri in 2009. The inspiration originated from George Orwell novel nineteen nightly-four. It was nominated for a short film baffta in 2011 and was featured in several film festivals including Raindance Film Festival. It describes an education story, but the content contains more than just education. It has large amount of connotation which i am going to explore. Two main actors occupy the majority of the screen time; a teacher and a obstinate young school boy. Despite the language being Irainian, the universal equation (2+2=5) and concluding connotations of freedom love and truth can be recognized by all.
Excluding the high end actors who performed exceptionally, I'm guessing a relatively low budget was required considering the limited mis-en-scene and standard class room would be the main costs.
The film starts off with a blank close up of a chalk board which introduces the scene as a consistent zooming out reveals the backs of the students as they innocently and playfully talk over each other. This could indicate a loss of identity, as the children could be seen as voiceless individuals and the importance of ‘education’ is valued over everything. The use of a chalk board with in this scene indicates to the viewer that its based within a third world developing country. Furthermore the monochromatic de-saturated gray colour pallet creates a mysterious atmosphere straight off the bat.
The immediate silence in the classroom as the teacher enters, links to the idea of dictatorship. This together with a tracking shot as the teacher walks to his desk indicates his dominance in comparison to the students. The fear of the students is immediately translated though vast movement of the camera as all the school children stand up. Not a word is spoken from the teacher as he waits, poised scanning the room in a antagonist manor.
A series of long shots and over the shoulder shots outlines that there is no emotional attachment between the students and teacher. Sound has been used very effectively, specifically the lac of it, creating tension throughout.
As the principal announces that some changes will be implemented a low angle shot slowly zooms over the teachers shoulder and up into the speakers indicating a significantly higher power. The teacher begins to make students learn the equation, 2+2=5. At first the students are hesitant, however Gradually more and more students begin to repeat the equation. The shot reverse-shot between the students and teacher establishes that there is no connection between the two and also the idea that the students are misguided rapidly through groups of students.
One obstinate student challenges the new status, stating that the equation is wrong and doesn't accept it. The framing of the shot depicts the boy straight in the middle with large amounts of dead space either side indicating a sense of loneliness, weakness yet at the same time a glimpse of hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment