Sophie Hack

How is disability represented in After Thomas? I believe in that this short clip from After Thomas disability is represented in a negative way. In the first second of the clip there is an editing technique of slow motion. Tis technique is used to emphasise how the mother is struggling to be in control of her son. This first scene is not only in slow motion but the camera work is a close up shot. This is used to reveal the emotions of the two character particularly of the mother as this is to reveal she is stressed. The mise en scene in this scene is costume as the mother and her son both have outdoor coats on with outdoor wear e.g. scarves and woolly hats this denotes that it is winter. The prop that the mother is carrying is an umbrella. This type of cold, damp and wet weather connotes a pathetic fallacy as it sets the scene to be quite uncomfortable and sad. When the clip starts we can see an editing technique of central credits on the screen. Secondly there is a piece of text comes on after the credits which says This is a true story. This is used to shock the audience and for the audience to give more sympathy and feel towards the characters and the story line, as they now know this situation really did happen. The sound in this scene is very true to what is going to happen. For example the non diegetic sound is the orchestra which consist of violins and woodwind instruments. The music is very weary slow sounds and gradually builds up in volume and tempo. This is to create tension in the scene. This means that the music is ambient to the scene as it fits in well with the emotion and struggling that the mother is being put through. The scene then progresses to the mother and son crossing the road. The camera work there is a wide shot. This is to set the scene and make the audience aware of the new setting. In the background is a row of shops this is to show that the setting is a busy town which denotes that there will be a lot of traffic. The diegetic sounds that take place at this point are the noises of the cars, lorries and seagulls. The seagulls can then denote that the town is a seaside resort town. The editing that takes place when they cross the road are simple wipes from the characters straight on and two the person in the lorries prospectus. As they are crossing the road there is a diegetic sound of the boy scuffing his new shoes which denotes the reaction that he does because of it. When the mother and the boy are lying on the floor the camera work is a side profile shot which is close up. A side profile shot is shown so that the audience can see the lorry coming closer in the distance. This is used to shock the audience and scare them to think what is going to happen next. At this point there is a diegetic sound of the horn from the lorry and the screaming of the child. These noises are to build tension and to emphasise that this particular scene is scary. While both of the characters are still on the road there is an over the shoulder shot from the mother for her to see the lorry coming nearer. This is to reveal a sense of panic. The scene then carries on to when they start walking across the road. The mise en scene shows that the seaside is in the background this is proof that the setting for this film is based on the seafront. The other extra characters are standing as if they watched the

Sophie Hack

struggling take place. This then proves how disability is presented negatively as not one of the extra characters tried to help. There then is dialogue in the scene with one of the extras stating appalling behaviour. This shows that the public thinks its the mothers fault for not controlling her child. Even though the mother was struggling and stressed because of the situation not one of the extra characters tried to help. This shows that the society in the scene presents it in a negative way as it is proving that it is the mother fault and she should control her son better.