Level 2 INTERNAL ASSESSMENT Close Viewing Report 12ENI WAL (PK210)

Achievement Standard 2.10 AS 91107

Name:Vadim.Fong

Introduction The Dark Horse is a new zealand film, which was released in 2014 to
critical acclaim. It portrays the real life story of gisborne speed chess
Title:Dark Horse player and coach, Genesis Portini. Who suffers from bipolar disorder.
Despite this, he manages to teach the local children how to play
Director:james chess. Giving them a positive focus, away from the gang lifestyle.
Napier Robertson The Director, James Napier Robertson. Manages to explore themes
such as mental illness and poverty throughout the film, in order to
Purpose/Ideas in properly retell the story of Genesis Portini and his story. He spotlights
Whole the theme of Mental illness in the “Gen confronts Rips mum” Scene,
Film:Mental which showcases Gen's deteriorating mental state and how the
Illness/ events prior in the film has affected him.
bipolar
Scene: Gen
confronts Rips
mum

Purpose/Ideas in
Scene:Gens
mental state

P1 The scene is set up with Gen not taking his pills the night before.
Key Moment 1: That is followed up by this scene, Genesis finds out rips have been
Genesi talk to rips pulled out, and that Noble knows about his homeless. He reacts to
Mother this by going to Rip's mum's house, and “imploring” her to change her
mind. The director uses focus in combination with a hand held
Purpose of camera technique and dialogue to best portray this moment, and gen
Moment: shifting mental state. As the scene progressed, the camera became
To introduce rips more “shaky”.For example,when Gen is walking towards nobles
mum and her house, it is relatively stable. But when he leaves after being
view, and to see confronted, the camera becomes more shaky .This correlates to
how gen reacts. Gen's mental state, as he becomes more panicked and mentally
unstable. This combines with the changes of fouse to different
Technique(s): characters. Switching between Sandy and Noble at the dinner table
Hand held camra, confronting Genesis about his homelessness, and Gen standing in
focus. the adjacent hallway. Negating the need to change camera angles.
Create a Sudo “One Shot”, with rising tension. It shows Gen actions
& Analysis - How has caught up to him, and his already bad bi-porler is getting worse.
techniques The shaky camera effect can give the audience insight on how
reinforce someone with mental health problems can be suffering.
purpose/ideas in
scene/film &
relate to real
world: it helps the
auduiens to feel
that gen feeling.
(in Panic)

P2 Genesis goes up to Rip's mothers doorsteps, incroughing her to

Key Moment change her mind. Gen's attempt fails and he retreats to his car. This
2:Gen talk to the moment of the film uses one-shot and dialog to keep the momentum
mother going. The camera does not change during the argument betweens
Genesis and Rip's mother, and it simply changes angle when Gen
Purpose of leaves in order to keep track of him as he escapes to his vehicle.
moment:to have The dialogue makes it clear that Gens not welcome there, Rip’s says
some character “You shouldn't be anywhere near those kids” and nabours yell for
conflict. across the street “Fuck of”. This dialogue creates tension, and the
one-shot prolongs that tension, not giving it a release. This moment is
Technique(s): effective in making the audience feel the suspense, as Genesis flees
Dialog, one-shot the scene. Rip’s mother, and her neighbours reaction to genesis and
his bi-poler expertly shows the stigma against mental illness. It shows
& Analysis - How how the people of Gisborne, and society as a whole view mental
techniques illness and the people who suffer from it in a negative light.
reinforce
purpose/ideas in
scene/film &
relate to real
world:

P3: After this, he exits from his car. Being unable to control his emotion,
Key Moment 3: he affords to duel the neighbours staring at him to a chess match.
Purpose of Scaring them in the process. The diretor, James Napier Robertson
moment:Gen has uses acting and an arch Shot/360 Shot to show Gen's action in full.
a mental Genasis steps out of the car with his chess set, challenging the
breakdown. neighbourhood to a Duel. We can see the camera man walk around
the car, circling it while keeping the camera on Gen. At this moment
Technique(s): the audience feels unsure, and a bit uneasy. Giving the viewer a 360
Acting, degree view of Genesis action. This technique combined with Cliff
Arch Shot/360 Curtis’s performance and portrayal of Genesis Potini shows the
Shot character of Gen and his decision throughout the film have caught up
with him.We can see his laughing histrily, giving big grand justers,
& Analysis - How and acting stereotypically “Crazy”. This moment shows Genasis
techniques having a mental breakdown.The director successfully shows us Gen's
reinforce lowest point this far in the film. Although the audience knows Gen, by
purpose/ideas in watching him grow throughout the film. This moment reinforces the
scene/film & negative stereotype the community of gisborne have towards people
relate to real with mental health. The film makes us think more about how our
world:His unstable community thinks about people with mental health.
mind state

P4 Soon after this, an angry neighbour punched Genesis in the face. It

Key Moment 4: soon Cuts to black, followed by a montage of Genesis going back to
Gen gets punch Nodels house. These techniques are used to show the aftermath of
Gen's actions. Right after the man punches him is when the cut to
Purpose of black happens. This both contrasts the more fluidity of the moments
moment:Puts before, as well as signifies a dramatic change in mood and style. In
Gens at his lowest the case of this moment, it changes form a high intensity moment. To
a more sombre montage. The montage shows the aftermath of Gen
Technique(s): getting punched. Is uses warmer lighting, as well as uses more
Cut to black, non-diegetic music. The montage shows shots of street kids on the
montages footpath, before slowly revealing Genesis black. This montage
effectively shows that the cut to black implied, and the black out was
& Analysis - How an effective way to transition into the montages. This clearly shows
techniques how the community around people with mental health can react to
reinforce people with mental health. As Well as how individuals can affect the
purpose/ideas in people suffering from mental health issues.
scene/film &
relate to real
world:

Conclusion The scene where we are introduced rips mum and her view.
Effectively presents the theme of Mental health. Not only how
Title:Dark horse someone like Genesis Portini deals with his bi-polar and it can affect
their actions as an individual. For example, Gens various outbursts
Director:james throughout the film. But also how the people around them and their
Napier Robertson wider community react to their behaviour. For example the way Rips
Mum talks to Gen and she tells him “You shouldn't be anywhere near
Purpose/ideas in the kids' '. This shows that the director James Napier Robertson,
the scene: successfully communicates the ides mental health not just in this
To introduce rips moment, but throughout the whole film. It helps the audience, as well
mum and her as myself. Reflected on how we see people struggle with mental
view, and to see health in our own communities.
how gen reacts.

How these relate

to purpose/ideas
in the wider film:
The Ideas of
mental health

How these relate

to the real world:
How people
reacted to people
with mental health