Short Film Analysis 1 - What's Virgin Mean?

0:07 - The use of close up shots as well as an extreme cole up shot of the child doing the colouring at the beginning of the production immediately presents a domestic scene of an everyday family situation, In this case, the Mother is preparing a meal whilst the child is in her care, occupying herself.

0:10 - The use of the calm, quiet non-diegetic music corresponds to the screen, where a natural setting is being presented.

0:12 - The child's costume consists that of a school uniform which immediately tells the audience that she is being represented as a student/schoolgirl.

0:16 - The use of the wide shot shows the mother turn around sharply after hearing the question asked by her child 'What's Virgin Mean?'. This shows the emotion of shock in the character of the Mother as her facial expression shows she is astonished by her Daughter's question.
.
0:18 - The use of mise-en-scene and shot-reverse-shot between the two characters presents the relationship between them. The daughter is seen sitting down, whilst the mother is standing. This represents the subject of power that the mother is the more dominant character.

0:20 - The non-diegetic music slowly fades out, which creates tension between the two characters and also the audience as they await the mother's response.

0:31 - The use of a mid-shot showing the mother fiddling with the cooking ingredients highlights the awkwardness of the entire situation/scenario.

0:48 - The use of bright lighting partnered with warm colours suggests a friendly and homely environment. This suggests that the relationship between the two characters is a positive, loving one.

0:57 - The questions being asked in quick succession by the child is humorous towards the audience as they wonder how the mother is going to respond.

1:13 - As the mother begins to explain the process of sexual intercourse to her daughter, she is seen holding a courgette. This could be interpreted as a representation of a male's genital area, which adds to the humor of the situation.

1:36 - At this stage, fast paced editing is used to exaggerate the excitement coming from the character. This shows her as getting carried away when explaining the process of sexual intercourse. This again, adds to the humor of the scene.

1:38 - The extreme close-up of the batter that the mother is mixing emphasis the passion and excitement coming from the character. The director of the production may have also included this shot to represent sexual intercourse between a male and female as before with the courgette example.

1:42 - The quick mid-shot shown of the daughter shows her reaction after her mother's response. From her facial expressions, the audience can tell that she doesn't fully understand what has been said and looks rather puzzled.

1:51 - A close up shot is then shown of the mother wiping sweat from her forehead. This emphasis how absorbed she was into her detailed description of sexual intercourse. Also, she is being represented as sexual. The action of wiping away sweat is that of what happens after sexual intercourse.

2:06 - The medium shot showing the daughter looking at the olive oil bottle instantly brings laughter/humor to the audience. They realise that she was asking what 'extra virgin' olive oil means. This is further constructed through her diegetic dialogue when she asks, "so what's EXTRA virgin mean?"

2:11 - Upbeat and positive non-diegetic music is then introduced to the scene, which fits the genre of comedy very well, ending it in a positive manner

2:11 - Another medium close up shot is used to show the mother turning around, shocked to realise her child was not using the word 'virgin' in a sexual context/manner as she originally interpreted.