About A Girl Analysis

The sequence begins with the title being typed up in a white font contrasting the black background. This simulates/represents texting which is one of the main activities in a young person's life therefore the audience know the film is likely to be about a young person.

We cut to a long-shot of a silhouetted girls dancing in a sparse field setting. She is heard singing along to 'Stronger' by Britney Spears which hints towards the youth of the character as Britney Spears was an icon to many teen girls in the 00s.

The next shot reveals the girls identity in a new setting. Through these medium to medium-close up shots we can see a run down, derelict industrial estate suggesting she is from a working class background. The young girl's regional identity is shown by her Manchurian accent. She talks to the camera directly as if she is having a conversation to the audience; breaking the 4th wall. Other factors of mise en scene that suggest her working class background include various other shots of the setting showing graffiti on walls, various terraced houses and in general, a lack-lustre feel. Her costume, with her fake gold hoop earrings and cheap-like coat also connote her working-class status.

The girls talks about various subjects as she changes what she talks about quite often. She tends to talk about her future and how she is going to be a famous singer like Britney Spears who is represented as the teenage girl's idol in this film. Her aspirations are quite ludicrous and unrealistic, she has false hopes which also suggests her working-class status as many working-class people have unrealistic goals.

She talks about how she's going to be living a better life than her family, drinking what she considers fancy drinks whilst her mom has rip-off larger. This bitter attitude towards her family suggests she has had a tough upbringing and also could be why she has high hopes, as she wants to be away from her family.

We are shown evidence of this as various flashbacks of her with her family are shown. The first one shows her with her mum, and younger sibling. In the background you can see her mum with a scratch card in her hand which also implies there eagerness to be in a better financial situation since there are a working class family.

In the second flashback we are shown her with her father. These flashbacks suggest that the father and mother aren't together anymore which could also be a factor in the girl's poor upbringing. In this flashback the girl is in the cafe with her dad: the girl is trying to talk to her dad but the dad seems to be more interested in the newspaper he is reading which signifies the girl's poor relations with her family. Another example of the poor relationship between the girl and the her father is when she is sitting outside the pub on her own whilst the father is inside the pub as we hear digetic cheering sound which appears to be inside the pub.

After these flashbacks, we are switch to a very high angle shot which tracks the girl walking along the canal. She throws a plastic bag into the canal but we don't know what is inside the bag which generates enigma for the audience. Her facial expression suggests she is doing something wrong which creates more enigma as we want to find out whats in the plastic bag.

We cut to an underwater shot which shows a dead baby float out as the plastic bag breaks up. This immediately is a shocking sight for the audience and leaves various questions for the audience.

Throughout the movie, we developed sympathy for the girls but after this shot, we are now questioning her moral values and who is the true villain in this short film. This also suggests a working-class background as teenage mothers are more common in working class families. About a girls represents various elements of teenager life and the grim side of having a poor upbringing in a working-class family. The girl's sporadic dialogue suggest someone wanting constant change and the handheld camera movement blends well with the area as it's not perfect and clean.