Never Forget Analysis (Representation of Gender)

Never Forget

Masculinity and femininity are constantly being contrasted throughout this short film, Never Forget. Spectators are introduced to two characters, male and female. The male who has been committed in their relationship, and flash backs showing that the female has been unfaithful. This clearly positions spectators to recognise the protagonist and  antagonist, allowing us to understand their situation.  

Firstly, a close-up shot tracking the male unzipping his suit is used to indicate his effort that is being put into his relationship. The non-diegetic sophisticated music becomes parallel to the situation of the evening as it is set on valentines evening. His immense effort shows spectators how he aims to look his best for his partner. However, a low-angle which tilts towards a high-angle reveals the female. This shot allows spectators to notice that she is in more of a rush, connoting that she is late to her date. Also can become parallel to the fact she has been unfaithful and reflects her panic, in case he finds out, this can be supported by the diegetic sounds of her footsteps, that are at a high speed to an average walk.  

Diegetic dialogue is used between the protagonist and antagonist, using a mobile phone as a prop to connote the distant emotions she has towards him due to her unfaithful actions the night before with another man. Parallel-cutting during the phone call is used to contrast each of the characters, allowing us to notice different points of view. A medium-shot of the man is used with shallow depth of field, acting as restricted narration as the setting is not completely revealed and allows spectators to notice the differences between the two characters. At this point during the short film, we can notice he is superior in his setting than she is, this is because he knows she is lying and she still thinks he's clueless.This may then generate enigma as this could have some significance towards the end of the short film.   

Half way through the short film, we are suddenly shown flash backs. This occurs when she tells him lies over the phone. For example: when she said she stayed in and had a “Chinese takeaway”. This was contrasted through showing the flash back indicating her love for another man. The high-key lighting used in the flashbacks connote the higher intensity of love she has for her secret lover than her other man. This setting generates recognition through the females perspective due to the difference in colour, lighting which would have been added during post production. The red colours around her in this scene portrays love between her and her secret lover that she hopes her other partner does not know about.                                

A focus pull is used as she walks away with her secret lover, however she is unaware of who is behind her. This then allows part of the narrative to puzzle together, allowing spectators to understand that the high intensity of questions ask from him were because he knew she was lying all the time. You can see this deeply hurts him due to the shallow depth of field and close-ups  emphasising the emotions he is feeling and the betrayal of her actions. As she discovers he knows about her secret lover, her facial expression is shown and enhanced through eye-level close-ups indicating her uneasy and guilt emotions, as she knows she has been lying and knows that it is wrong. 

The final moments of the short film is very shocking to spectators. We are shown a very dramatic close-up of the man. His distraught and distressed facial expression becomes powerful to spectators allowing us to sympathise with him and the situation he is in. His diegetic dialogue implements the close-up as it builds a powerful scene, however, as a spectator you are left questioning what is going to happen next. 

The final shot of Never Forget is a very sensitive viewing for spectators, as we see a body falling in front of the women. The body language and facial expression we see of her allows spectators to guess that the man had committed suicide and to create a shocking atmosphere. This shock value scene encourages spectators to also feel in the same way as she would, allowing spectators to engage within the narrative. However, this final shot generate restricted narration as we never see who the body is, but through her reaction we automatically guess it is her partner. This twist in the final shot is an incredibly distressing scene, generating intense emotions or sympathy for spectators who have experienced losing someone through suicide. 

To summarise, gender is being summarised in a very controversial way. The female is being portrayed as a cheater and an unfaithful lady. Therefore, the male protagonist is being made to sympathise with, however he took actions over her harsh behaviour.