Above: Still from "High Rise" by Gabrielle Russell
...and I wanted to discuss a short that was shown called "High Rise" by Gabrielle Russell.
Of all eight, this one stood out to me particularly. I think the directors aim was to provide a glimpse into the life of a mother coping with post natal depression and to make the audience question what other stories are going on in the same building. The main focuses of the film, in my opinion were to create an empathy with the mother and allow the audience to feel the tension in the room created through pace and I think the director captured her aims and focuses well.
The most striking element of the film was the lack of dialogue. The diegetic sounds built up the tension in the film and the narrative was created simply by camera angles and acting. I felt that this intensified the drama of the piece and helped keep the subject matter objective. I didn't feel the director was condemning the mother for having those feelings and indeed I began to sympathise with her and realise the severity of this condition when she looks to see the doll smashed on the ground. I felt the director dealt with a sensitive subject matter that is not really talked about in a successful way in that the viewer feels involved. The viewer feels as though they can understand the mother's feelings and her reason for trying to change her life.
The sounds of the game show on the TV and the baby crying were very well used to create an understanding of the mindset of the character. I felt that the slow increase in volume of both creates a sense of claustrophobia in the high rise flat. The quietened game show sound when she falls from the chair following into a silence as she goes into the outer room with just the door clicking sound effect to break up the silence really gives the audience a feel that everything has been numbed out in the mind of the protagonist. They feel as if a calm has descended whilst she is in the corridor but that there is a quiet tension underneath it where you aren't sure whether she really is committed to her decision or is already in regret. When she returns to find the baby safe, the close up of her face doesn't bring relief nor regret at what she'd done leaving the audience to decide on the mix of feelings.
Another really interesting component to the film are the wide shots into and out from the building at the beginning and end of the film; I felt that this creates a sense that anything can be happening in the rooms and the feeling that the mothers situation is not abnormal is created at the end by the pan out as if any one of those windows could reveal a similar issue or another family in distress.
Finally, the length of the film for dealing with it's subject matter was perfect and I felt it explored the content and introduced the narrative just enough to make it understandable and allow audience engagement without answering all the questions. I still felt I was left with some questions to take away and reflect on that didn't confuse my understanding of the film and it's aims.
I think that the film is successful because it has a strong engagement with the audience and I felt involved in the situation - it allows the audience to have a brief snapshot into that life and explores a subject which is not discussed very much and quite delicate in a way that allows the audience an inside understanding.
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