Visual Text Exemplars
Excellence 8
Analyse how a text you have studied effectively presented its ideas, opinions or information.
(You could consider the use of such aspects as character(s), setting, structure/form, ideas, style/language
techniques, lighting, costume, use of visual and/or sound techniques, etc.)
Sound introduction
which addresses the
question and outlines the
key ideas which will be
discussed in the essay ;
film title and director
supplied.
Clear topic sentence
which focuses on the
idea/theme being
discussed. Good level of
analysis offered which
is supported by specific
examples.
Detailed references to
production techniques
and they way in which
they link to theme.
In The Pianist, by Roman Polanski (2002), ideas have been successfully
communicated using characterisation, lighting and music. The actions of the
main character, Wladek Szpilman, help to reveal the resiliency of the human
spirit. Lighting and colour selection are used to show how important hope is
for the human spirit. Music is effectively incorporated by the director to
expose the desire for survival and freedom.
Wladek’s character represents the idea that humanity is resilient.
Throughout the film, Wladek shows strength, both physically and
psychologically, in the battle to survive the horrors of World War II. We, as
the audience, recognise this in Wladek’s desperate actions, such as when he
struggles to open a can of pickles he has scavenged from an abandoned house.
This scene shows us his determination and desperation – exaggerated by
Polanksi’s choice of a medium long shot to show Wladek isolated and weak
in a deserted kitchen surrounded by ruins. We also see this strength of will
and resiliency when Wladek is running away from German soldiers – he
manages to scramble out through a back window before they destroy the
building, and, despite an injured ankle, he flees. An extreme long shot of
Wladek limping through a deserted ghetto captures Wladek’s fragility and
vulnerability in this dangerous situation. Roman Polanski has effectively
communicated the idea that humanity is resilient by highlighting with the
camera Waldek’s struggle and flight to survive in key moments throughout
the film.
Lighting, supported by the director’s use of colour, is also used to show how
important hope is to the ongoing strength of the human spirit. Throughout
the film hope is battered by horror, yet Wladek finds the strength to fight on.
Polanski has used low-key lighting and muted tones through the majority of
the film to emphasise the lack of hope and echo the mood of oppression and
despair in war-stricken Poland. For example, when Wladek is forced to hide
beneath the stage in the café where he used to work, his face is exposed in
chiaroscuro lighting. The shafts of light across the extreme close-up of his
face reveal Wladek’s fear and confusion, yet this hint of light in the darkness
symbolises hope in this terrifying moment. The aspect of hope being revealed
in light is further highlighted when Wladek and other workers are walking
alongside a ghetto wall. A long shot shows them marching late at night, with
the ghetto dark and miserable. The side of the road on which they march is
illuminated with tiny streetlights, adding moments of lighter hues. This
suggestion of light is crucial in reminding us that life can be better. The
importance of hope to the strength of the human spirit is captured by
Polanski’s hints of light in a film that predominantly uses low-key lighting
and muted tones.
Music is effectively incorporated by Roman Polanski into the film in a
fashion that enable music to symbolise the freedom of the spirit. The central
A convincing array
of specific examples
are provided
throughout the essay.
These are all
analysed
convincingly and
with insight.
character, Wladek, is a musician, whom we meet in the opening scenes as he
is playing the piano. From here, music is established as being at the heart of
Wladek’s existence and motivating force in his life. A slow reveal of Wladek,
starting from an extreme close-up of his hands as he plays Chopin’s Ballad
No.2 in the radio station’s studio, opens the film and creates a theme song for
Wladek that the audience will later recognise. At this stage of the film,
Wladek is free, and this shot focussing on his hands reveals to the audience
the power of the human touch to create beautiful music; and, later, by others,
to kill. As the film progresses into wartime, the music is silenced by fear and
threat, only to return again in crucial moments to enrich Wladek’s
determination to survive. In the middle of the film, when Wladek is hiding in
an apartment, we see him fantasising about playing the piano. Polanski
eschoes Wladek’s theme song in the soundtrack, to reveal the ongoing role
music had in Wladek’s life, enabling him to escape the horrors in his mind for
a moment. A close-up of his face as he pretends shows the audience Wladek’s
suppressed passion for music and hos he uses it to distract himself from the
struggled and burdens of war. Polanski effectively incorporates the idea of
freedom and human resiliency through the use of music and silence in the
film.
By using character actions, lighting and music, Polanski has clearly
communicated his idea that the human spirit is resilient even in extreme
circumstances. Light shafts reveal hope, and music represents freedom, as
Polanski highlights the idea that even when facing imminent death, humans
will fight to survive. Wladek’s actions during wartime echo the idea that
humanity’s spirit is strong.
792 words
Excellence 7
Analyse how visual techniques are used to develop deeper ideas in a visual text you have studied.
Sound introduction which
addresses the question and
outlines the key ideas
which will be discussed in
the essay ; film title and
director supplied.
Each main body
paragraph starts with
a clear topic sentence
which focuses on the
idea or technique being
discussed. Good level of
analysis offered which
are supported by
specific examples.
Specific examples are
provided throughout
the essay. These are
all analysed
convincingly and
with insight.
In the film Atonement directed by Joe Wright, various film techniques are utilised
to develop deeper ideas. Symbolism plays a large role in the text to demonstrate
the creativity and manipulation of the truth in Briony Tallis’ writing. Secondly
costume insinuates the absolute purity and innocence of a child in terms of life
experience as well as the prevailing sexual heat and class status. Additionally the
use of motifs and colour and lighting allude to the eventual atonement of Briony.
In the film there is an assortment of symbols which reflect Briony’s wild
imagination. At the very beginning of the film the viewer sees Briony’s bedroom; a
rather artificial setting immediately portrayed through the wallpaper, the doll’
house and the size of the animals – the tiger being larger than the elephant. The
Noah’s Ark-like arrangement of creatures leading to Briony alludes to the idea of
Briony being like God himself – the controller and manipulator of the lives of other
people (a clear foreshadowing of the manipulation that is to come). Also
repeatedly occurring close ups of Briony’s eyes indicate her point of view and
subsequent shaping of the truth to fit her initial assumptions. The clear blueness
of her eyes allows us to see Briony as someone who is purposeful and focused. The
place where Briony writes (the overgrown grotto) creates a metaphor for her
restless and overactive creative energy. Everything is overgrown and bursting to
break free and flower which is symbolic of her frustrated creativity. The elaborate
tunnel effect of the grotto shows us the “tunnelling into nothingness” that Briony’s
imagination leads her – the darkness and loss of light reveals the darkness of her
soul following the lie she tells as well as the effect it has on the lives of Robbie and
Cecilia.
Costume is a visual technique used in the film to show and develop aspects of the
main storyline. At the beginning of the film Briony is dressed in white and very
plain clothing showing her to be pure and innocent in life experience. She is
almost angelic and the whiteness of her dress shows her immaturity, even for her
age. This image is created to shock us – Briony is presented as an innocent child
but she deliberately tells lies that have devastating consequences for the people she
loves the most. Later we see Briony in the crisp, inpenetrable whiteness of her
nurse’s uniform – it is starched and she takes refuge in the anonymity of this
costume which reflects the inner torment that she feels once she grows up and
realises the full extent of her crime. She wishes to escape from herself and create a
life that is dedicated to helping others and atoning for her crime. Robbie Turner,
the housekeeper’s son who has grown up with the Tallis children, is first observed
to be wearing work clothes and gardening gloves when standing beside Cecilia
who is dressed in a flowing and flimsy dress – their different social stations are
clearly established but so too is their simmering attraction for one another (as well
as the impossibility of their love for each other) when Cecilia removes her dress to
rescue the jug from the fountain. Furthermore Robbie’s attire contrasts with the
expensive suits that Leon and Marshall arrive in which are indicative of their
immense wealth, power and status. It is interesting to note, however, that Robbie
seems perfectly at ease in his workman clothes and does not defer to Leon and
Marshall unlike Danny the servant who treats them like they are his employers. He
is less comfortable, however, when he is attired in evening wear at the dinner party
and this suggests the ambiguity of his position in the family.
In the scene at St Thomas’ hospital the use of colour and motifs are apparent and
reveal Briony’s growing culpability. At the hospital the extremely clean, sterile and
white surroundings are in fact a mirror of what Briony wishes to do with her
conscience – a desire to sanitise herself. She wishes to erase and obliterate all the
harm she has so carelessly bred from her infantile actions. She is, however, unable
to speak up for Robbie at this point as her parents insist that “this terrible business
has been tidied up quite nicely.” The recurring motif of her continuously scrubbing
her hands (in a montage of close up shots) symbolises her need to atone and shed
her guilt. The matron’s assertion that “there is no Briony” which Briony herself
repeats later in the scene reinforce the idea that she is tormented and wishes to
scrub away the old Briony. Further into the scene however the director adds a
contrast in colour, adding blood red to the palette when injured soldiers arrive
from Dunkirk. Here Briony becomes exposed to the horrors of war and comes face
to face with the hell to which she so carelessly discarded Robbie to five years
earlier and she realises that, despite all her scrubbing, she can never fully remove
this guilt.
Fluent writing.
Planned, well
structured essay.
Effective and detailed
conclusion. It ends
with a powerful
statement.
Lighting is used to reveal truth and also assists us to distinguish between
dreamlike moments and reality. In the first part of the film the screen is flooded
with warm, natural light. This is a perfect day; one of the hottest days of the year.
The heavy, pulsating heat builds up over the course of the day and is reminiscent of
the attraction between Cecilia and Robbie – it is heavy and consuming. As their
passion reaches a climax in the library, so too does the heat of the day which gives
way to the shadowy evening where Briony accuses Robbie of rape. When Briony
catches Lola’s rapist in the act she drops her torch to the ground blinding her. This
is contrasted to the sun falling onto her when she opens the church door much
later in the film and recalls seeing Marshall’s face in the torchlight – proof that he
was the rapist. In a different sense dim, surreal lighting is used in the foot washing
scene, along with pink filters suggesting fire. This shows the idea of the nightmare
qualities of Robbie’s experiences and the longing he has for peace. His
hallucination of his mother washing his feet creates the image for us of a longsuffering martyr – a Christ-like figure who has reached the end of his journey. In
the beach scene during Robbie’s montage extremely bright lighting is shown on
Cecilia accentuating his growing delirium and desire for her as memories of her
bring him peace. The flickering out of the match signifies Robbie’s death and,
along with it, the ending of any chance that Briony has to atone for her crime.
In conclusion, in the film Atonement directed by Joe Wright visual techniques are
sued to develop deeper ideas within the film. Ideas such as the “innocence” of
Briony, sexual tension between Robbie and Cecilia and Briony’s growing attempts
to atone are conveyed to us through these techniques. Many lessons can be drawn
from these. Firstly although the manipulation of truth can be carried out with
ease, the consequences may in fact be harsher than ever expected. The guilt of these
false truths may linger forever within a person and forgiveness may never come.
1200 words
Merit 6
Analyse how a character was used to develop a message in the visual or oral text(s)
Clear
introduction
which states how
the character
develops the idea
of human
capabilities in
horrific
situations
Detailed
analysis of the
social hierarchy
of the ghetto
using
appropriate
examples and
quotations.
Specific
techniques
and their
effects alluded
to. Shot types,
sarcasm,
props/costum
e analysed
well. Ideas are
convincing.
In the film The Pianist directed by Roman Polanski we see a main character of Wladyslaw
Szpilman develop throughout the film. When the Jewish community moved into the ghetto
life changed considerably. Szpilman and the fellow population had their basic rights taken
away, he sacrificed many things for his family, faced a hard moment of internal conflict and
learnt how to accept help from others when in need. Through these actions a key message is
portrayed in the cababilities of human beings in horrific situations.
Szpilman and his family were part of the Jewish ethno religious group in Poland, Warsaw.
When the German Nazis arrive things in life change considerably for everybody. The germans
placed and enforced strict rules upon the Jews and the first of these was where they had to
reside. The first rule that came into play was that every Jew had to move to a specific part of
Warsaw called the ghetto. This was because the Jews had different beliefs to others. It was
the first step that the germans were taking to exterminate the entire Jewish population. This
was not the first and the last rule that was placed upon all Jews. Many things were taken
away from them making their day to day regular activity incredibly different. We see
Szpilman with a close up shot of a sign hanging on the door saying “no Jews”. This was one of
Szpilman’s regular places to relax and socialise with friends. Szpilman was absolutely
disgraced with this as this was a right that was taken away from him. In the moments after
this we see that his tone is full of sarcasim, “I would suggest that we go sit down and talk but
that is another official decree: no Jews allowed on park benches”. Szpilman tries to act calm
and make it funny but it is obvious use of sarcasm to show how ridiculous some of the rules
were. This was just the beginning of what was taken away from the Jewish community. We
see another way the Germans were getting at the Jews was by taking away their unique
individuality and labelling them as one thing and that was as a Jew. All Jews were made to
wear an armband with a blue Star of David printed on. There were strict rules enforced about
the measurements of the star and the background “Each point of the star had to be 1
centimetre exactly” Now the Jewish are identifiable and officially branded. Taking things and
rights away from the community was the beginning of what terrible thing’s the germans were
going to do. By extracting their personality and placing them in a small enclosure away from
public life it could be argued that if they were not seen or heard they could be forgotten. To
be determined through this was key and by having a positive attitude as Szpilman did it has
huge strength and resilience. This all demonstrated the directors message of what humans
can achieve and make through in bad situations Szpilman sacrificed so many things for the
good and benefit of others even if it ment a loss of his own. He looses his initial arrogance and
over confident attitude to be able to recognise what he personally had to do for his family.
There was always constant worry about when where and what their next meal would be.
There was limited money that could be taken into the ghetto to be exchanged for specific
ghetto money. This amount was by far not enough for a large family to survive on. Szpilman
had a huge passion and love for music and particularly the instrument of piano. Szpilman
decides that they should sell his piano for extra money, “I’ll give you $2000 zlotes and I’ll pay
for the removal”. The amount that this man was offering was far less than the piano was
worth and what they should actually be getting from it. Szpilman knows that time is running
out and they would not get another offer for it. Because they were in desperate need of money
as the economic condition made it hard to survive Szpilman accepts the offer. This is not the
only sacrifice that Szpilman makes. They are constantly struggling for money in the ghetto so
Szpilman has to sacrifice his own morals and beliefs to play the piano for the Jewish police
family members and associates. The Jewish police were an internal justice system within the
ghetto formed of Jews who went against their fellow community and betrayed the Jews so
they could reap the benefits they received such as allowed into the café. We see the mid shot
of Szpilman at his piano inside the café. His facial expression is demonstrating disgust in that
for one he was playing the piano for people who could turn against their own. He does loose
some dignity and his own morals but in the back of his mind he knew it was for the benefit of
his family. The piano for Szpilman is not only his passion but also a symbol of his strength
and determination to do what’s best and to go to the lengths he has in sacrifice for his family.
Through these acts the director is conveying the key theme of the positive things man can do
for others under horrific situations.
Key moment in
the text is
broken down
well in terms of
its effect on the
main character
and the viewer
and the
conveying of
the main
theme.
Clear links
made between
character and
the message
Szpilman faces a moment of conflict where we see he has to make the decision between his
family or his survival. Ultimately, for him to it is a choice between life and death. Szpilman is
pulled over the line of Jewish police at the train station where every remaining Jew is
boarding the train to the concentration camp thousands of miles away where the surviving
Jews will be forced under physical labour or will be placed in a gas chamber. Szpilman is
pulled over the line by a man named Itzak Heller. Initially Szpilman is trying to get through
back over the line to his family. His attempts are unsuccessful but also partially because he
has to do the right thing for himself. Szpilman saved his family and did many admirable deeds
for the benefit of others but this time his decision to sacrifice his family was for his survival.
The character action of Itzak saved Szpilman’s life from the concentration camp. It’s a tough
decision but ultimately it’s for the best. Szpilman however doesn’t yet know the battle he has
to face in order to achieve survival. But that at the time did not matter. His family may be
gone but he has to draw power from his passion in order to overcome the battle of life. The
director has used this specific character action to convey the key theme that what humans
can endure under adversity is huge and when we want to survive we will do everything
deemed necessary to achieve it.
Szpilman receives help from a German Nazi named Hosenfeld. This is a big moment as he is
unsure whether he can trust and accept his help as he does not know if his actions could get
him killed or not. Szpilman has to overcome the thoughts that Hosenfeld could have signed
the papers to his families death and accept the fact that he needed help. Szpilman lost his
arrogance and knew what he needed to do for survival. Szpilman by rank is below Hosenfeld
but he draws power from Hosenfeld’s hope and trust. To forgive someone like Hosenfeld was
tough and it portaits the directors message in that we have to over come our pride and beliefs
and accept what we need. Its another way that justified the message of the capabilities of
humans in horrific situations.
Throughout the film The Pianist directed by Roman Polanski we saw the main character of
Wladek Szpilman overcome great adversity. His passion and love of the art and music drives
him to survive under horrific situations in order to be able to play the piano and regain more
passion for piano.
1,332 words
Merit6
Analyse how a character was used to develop a message in the visual or oral text(s)
In the film, Atonement, directed by Joe Wright, the character of Briony was used to develop a
message on the effectiveness of atonement, using a variety of camera shots, dialogue, voiceover and
costume. The message was developed through Briony’s reaction to her crime in comparison to that
of another character, Paul, her inability to confront those who she wronged and the seemingly
endless self-punishment she then subjected herself to.
Clear introduction
which states how the
character develops the
idea of the effectiveness
of atonement and
mentions techniques
used to show this.
Techniques and used in
discussion
In the beginning of the film both Briony and Paul commit a crime, yet only Briony attempts to
atone. Paul Marshall, a family friend, rapes Lola, Briony’s cousin. Lola does not see who rapes her
and Paul never admits to anyone that he raped Lola nor appears to show any remorse. Twelve
years later, Briony, who witnessed the rape but never accused Paul, attends the wedding of Paul
and Lola. A mid shot shows Paul smirking as he makes eye contact with Briony, knowing he has
gotten away with his crime as Briony later explains, ‘Lola won’t be able to testify now because of
the marriage’. On the other hand, Briony, whose crime some might consider less severe, witnessing
the rape and falsely accusing Robbie, her sister’s boyfriend, feels extremely guilty. To try and
lessen her guilt, Briony decides ‘not to take up her place at Cambridge’, but to become a nurse
instead in an attempt to atone. This shows that the act of trying to atone shows character as it
shows that someone is not a sociopath like Paul Marshall, but feels guilt and is trying to lessen it.
Clear links made
between character and
the message
Briony attempts to atone to deal with her guilt, in place of apologising to those she hurt, as she
lacks the courage. Briony feels guilty because due to her false accusation Robbie is sent to war,
after three years in jail. This becomes apparent to the audience when the hospital Briony works in
is inundated with returned soldiers and we are presented with a point of view close up shot of
Briony looking at the blood on her hands, followed by a wide angle shot of her hallucinating
Robbie. To deal with this guilt she attempts to atone by stripping herself of her social status by
becoming a nurse and doing menial tasks like mopping hospital floors. This clear and deliberate
change in her life is highlighted by her change in costume. As a child, she grew up in a wealthy
family and her clothes, though childish, were detailed and expensive. This is then contrasted to
her bland and sterile nurse’s uniform. It becomes apparent that Briony wishes to apologise when,
in a fictional scene in her autobiography she repeats the phrase “I’m very, very sorry” to Robbie and
her sister Celia. However this is confirmed to be fictional in a voiceover by Briony saying that she
“was too much of a coward to go and see her sister”. This shows us that atonement is an option
when dealing with guilt which requires less courage than a more direct approach, like apologising,
which is an act thayt requires a great deal of courage.
Evidence used to
support point.
Creates contrast
between a straight
apology and an act of
atonement
Again, there is a
convincing level of
analysis. Weaves
discussion of
techniques with
characters and ideas.
Multiple examples
used to support
point.
A strong conclusion is
drawn rather than a
simple summing up of
what is said. Shows
convincing level of
analysis
Briony’s atonement is not a finite sentence; she keeps punishing herself to try and lessen her guilt
more and more. A montage of wide angle shots showing Briony emptying bedpans, mopping
floors, cleaning bedframes, and ending with a closeup shot of her scrubbing her hands raw shows
Briony attemping to atone and wash the guilt away. However, she informs the audience with the
use of voiceover that ‘no matter how hard she worked, no matter how long the hours, she couldn’t
escape from what she did and what it meant’. This inability to lessen her guilt results in Briony
developing feelings of self-loathing. A midshot of Briony staring at her ghost like reflection in a
window is accompanyied by her repeating a phrase that was directed at her earlier, taken out of
context, ‘there is no Briony’. Because her coping method of atonement could not erase her guilt,
Briony wishes to erase herself as that would not only remove her guilt, but remove the pain she
causes others. Wright has shown us that atonement is an ineffective method for dealing with guilt,
and can have seriously negative outcomes, such as developing a person’s desire to erase themselves.
In conclusion, in the film Atonement, through the use of an assortment of camera shots, dialogue,
voiceover, costume and montage, the character of Briony was used to develop the message that
atonement, while it is an admittance of guilt, is an ineffective way of dealing with guilt, that may
require less courage than a direct approach such as apologising, but that can have extremely
negative out comes. In most cases, a direct approach such as apologising is better for everyone in
the long term. For example, if Briony had apologised in the film, her family may have reconnected,
her guilt would be reduced, and Paul Marshall may have been held responsible for his crimes, if
not legally, then at least socially.
830 words
For Excellence the student needs to include a more perceptive analysis of the text, perhaps bringing in
discussion of the differing ages of the two who commit the crime and how that could affect how her guilt might
be perceived by others.
Merit 5
Clear
introduction:
title, director,
key words,
summary of
techniques that
will be analysed.
Analyse how a character was used to develop a message in the visual or oral
text(s).
In the film The Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont, the character Andy is
used to develop the message of the importance of maintaining hope in a place like Shawshank
Prison. The visual and oral techniques used to show this message are cinematography, voiceover, lighting and music.
When Andy arrives in Shawshank Prison, the other prisoners were unable to see how Andy was
different from them. Andy was different because he had hope in him that he would be able to
get out of Shawshank. However, to the other prisoners, this seemed to be an idea that was
Quotes included. dangerous and pointless because no one else could see that they would have any chance of
having a life outside of prison. The technique of voice-over showed this idea, “it was like he had
an invisible coat that would protect him from this place”. When Red uses the metaphor of the
“invisible coat” it symbolises Andy’s hope for his freedom. Because Andy’s hope was “invisible”
Technique
it shows us that hope wasn’t really common at all in Shawshank and due to the horrid treatment
identified and
of the prisoners by the guards and the fact that the prisoners knew that they were highly
examples given.
unlikely to receive parole. Therefore, Andy shows us that it is important to remain hopeful
because our hope can act like a shield and cause the hard times to not seem as hard, as Andy uses
his in Shawshank. The technique of music is also used by Andy to try and show to the other
prisoners that hope is important to have. When Andy receives some records to put in the prison
library, Andy locks himself in the guard’s office and plays music over the loud speakers, despite
Convincing
the danger he was bringing onto himself. When Andy played the music, voice-over was used
understanding
parallel with the music to tell us “that for the briefest of moments, every man in Shawshank felt
shown. Further
free”. Therefore, we see that this act by Andy was done deliberately so he could help some of the
explanation and
perception
other prisoners find hope so they could also protect themselves from the prison. Similarly, it
required for
showed us that hope is worth fighting for because like Andy, we should put ourselves in
Excellence.
situations where we are able to give and receive hope despite the costs.
Technique
identified and
examples given.
Convincing
understanding
shown. Further
explanation and
perception
required for
Excellence.
Andy is used as a contrast to the character of Brooks to teach us that hope is important to have
in all situations. Brooks is a prisoner who has been in Shawshank for most of his life. Brooks
has become used to his life in prison and accepts his position in Shawshank. However, when
Brooks is given parole he does not know how to survive without the prison around him. This is
because Brooks never had any hope of getting out, unlike Andy. A mid-shot of Brooks is shown
when Brooks is on the bus leaving Shawshank and he is gripping tightly onto the bar of the seat
in front of him. This symbolises that Brooks is not ready to leave his old life and by gripping
onto the bar it shows that he wants to hold onto his old life as much as possible. Brooks gives
up on his hope outside prison and commits suicide. This is used to show what life can e like
when you have no hope and thus the hope that Andy has is greatly emphasised. We learn the
importance of the hope Andy has and the importance of us keeping our hope because we never
know for certain in life what our outcomes will be. The technique of voice-over is used to
develop the message that it is important to have hope in all situations and “if things had carried
on that way, I do believe that this place would have got the better of him”. In Andy’s first two
years in prison, he finds it particularly tough because he is being attacked by a group called “the
sisters”. The hope that Andy has carries him through this time and consequently, fights back
against them. This is very important for Andy because if he did not keep his hope alive, he could
have just let the group attack him and fall into the mindset that things were not going to
improve. However, Andy kept his hope and thus showed us that even a little hope can over
power any negative thing that is going on around you because it can give you the will and the
mind set to carry on and continue trying to improve your circumstances.
Andy conveys the message that hope is important to have in all situations. When Andy escapes
Shawshank, he causes other prisoners to gain hope themselves. They gain the hope that there is
a world outside the prison and that they are able to make a new life for themselves. When Andy
escapes, lighting is used to show us his hope. Andy crawls out of Shawshank through a sewer
pipe and it is pitch black except for a circle of light coming from the end of the pipe and this
symbolises his freedom. The lighting symbolises Andy’s hope because it was Andy’s hope for
freedom that kept him going the whole way through his time in prison. This teachers the other
prisoners that they too should remain hopeful because in time, they will all be able to receive
freedom as Andy did. This is very important in the film because it thus gives the prisoners
something to aim for and thus, gain hope themselves. Similarly, the technique of voice-over by
Andy shares hope with the other prisoners when Red reads a letter from Andy “Hope is a good
thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies”. This shows to Red that is doesn’t
matter how little hope you start off with, it will only grow. Therefore, we also learn that hope is
something that is truly ours and it is something that cannot be taken from us. Therefore, in a
place like prison, it is especially important because the prison system strips a person of almost
everything, their life, identity, freedom, so our hope is sometimes the only thing left that is ours.
Sound
summary of
main points.
The character Andy is used to develop the message of hope and how hope is important to have
in all situations in the film The Shawshank Redemption. We learn that our hope can protect us
like a shield, it is important to give and receive hope despite the cost, we should keep hope
because we never know how situations may change, that hope is important because it will give
us the willpower to keep on trying, hope will give us a goal and that our hope will never go away
and cannot be taken from us.
1128 words
Achieved 4
Clear
introduction:
title, director,
key words,
reason the
qualities were
purposefully
developed.
Some incomplete
sentences hinders
clarity of ideas.
Evidence
included.
Quotes included
and symbolism of
ocean explained.
Analysis of the
idea of the
‘bigger scheme’
could be further
developed.
Technique and
example presented
although link to
real world could
be further
analysed.
Analyse how the qualities of a hero were purposefully developed in
the visual or oral text(s).
In the film Gattaca directed by Andrew Niccol, the qualities of the hero Vincent were
developed to show the unyielding resilience of the human spirit. This is shown through the
oral technique of dialogue and the visual techniques of imagery and costume.
Vincent’s inner strength is portrayed through the contrast of his own dialogue with that of
his familys. Vincent lives in a world where non genetically modified people are ‘invalids’ and
are heavily discriminated against. “We now have discrimination down to a science” Invalids
are seen as hopeless people without a future. Vincent’s own father even tells him “The only
time you’ll see the inside of a spaceship is if you’re cleaning it” Despite this, Vincent
dedicates his life to studying outerspace. His ultimate goal, to work at the Gattaca space
station. When his father reminds him he has a one in hundred chance of living past the age of
thirty Vincent’s response is “well I’ll take it”. Vincent’s determination and strength is very
admirable. That he bothers to fight back against his societies prejudice instead of simply
accepting his fate is very respectable. Through the negative choices of Vincent’s family,
Niccol demonstrates that the journey we take, whatever our goal may be, we must achieve it
alone. Vincent is one against many, yet he manages to keep positive. From this, the audience
is shown how important self belief and having a positive spirit it to making dreams into
reality.
Imagery of the ocean is used to further develop Vincent’s heroic qualities. The ocean is a wild
and natural element. The scientists of Vincent’s time could never perfect it nor could they
create a human powerful enough to control it. Vincent and his genetically ‘superior’ brother
Anton play the game of Chicken in the ocean. They swim out as far as they can and whoever
gets scared and turns back first is the loser. When Anton is conceived, the genetist tells
Vincent’s parents “You could conceive naturally a thousand times and never get such results”
Because of Anton’s built in strength, he is always the winner. However, the last time they
play, Vincent achieved “the unachievable” by beating Anton. When compared side by side
Anton is more physically capable that Vincent, however next to a majesty such as the ocean,
both boys are equally insignificant. Through the imagery of the ocean, the audience is made
conscious of the bigger scheme. Where it is not the physicality that allows us to come out
above the rest but the inner ability to find the willpower within ourselves to achieve
greatness.
Through the visual technique of costume, Vincent proves that qualities are not always seen
on the outside. When we initially see Vincent, he dresses very casually. Also, he wears
glasses, a blatant sign of an invalid. As the makes the transgression into the Gattaca society
his attire quickly becomes professional and clinical. He wears suits, his hair is cut short and
the glasses are swapped for contact lenses. Vincent when going for his interview at Gattaca
has to give a urine sample. He uses a fake, urine from his ‘borrowed ladder’ or the identity he
is hiding under, an ex Olympian, Jerome Marrow. After the sample, Vincent questions the
doctor “When’s the interview?”. The doctor responds with “That was it” illustrating how
heavily people in this society rely on genes and appearance. Vincent proves that despite his
change in attire he is the same person underneath. In Vincent’s outer world appearance is
everything and the idea of what’s inside someone consists of only their DNA sequence.
However, Vincent matches and even betters some of his genetically elite colleagues. Proving
that true power is that which you work for. Niccol uses costume to show that even though
people may look different, the spirit on the inside is what counts.
In the film Gattaca directed by Andrew Niccol, the strength of the human spirit is
demonstrated through the hero Vincent. He is undaunted by societies prejudice and low
expectations. He shows that there is more ability to a person than genes suggest when racing
Anton in the ocean. Finally, he proves that outer image does not constitute inner capabilities
shown through his change in costuming.
Not Achieved 2
Analyse how a character was used to develop a message in the visual or oral text(s)
Last part of
introduction
lacks clarity
Explains how
Truman is being
manipulated
Perceptive
comment about
how we can
avoid being
manipulated
Accurate
information
Incorrect
comment –
Marlon is
lying, not
giving ‘empty
promises’
In the film The Truman Show directed by Peter Weir a character that was used to develop a
message throughout the film was Marlon, Truman’s best friend, and through the use of camera
shots and dialogue we see the way in which people can be manipulated.
Marlon is first seen manipulating Truman when he tries to tell Truman that he has everything
that he needs in his town at Seahaven, and that he shouldn’t leave to go to Fiji. Marlon is seen
in a midshot saying to Truman “you have a desk job, I’d kill for a desk job” Because he doesn’t
want Truman to leave, he is pointing out all the reasons why Truman should stay rather than
encouraging him like a real friend. He is manipulating Truman by leading him into a false
sense of security. I think that Peter Weir’s purpose in showing Marlon manipulating Truman
into staying is to show us that when making decisions we are often only shown the positive or
a decision someone wants us to make, rather than the negative and we need to look past this to
run our own lives, so we can make informed decisions, and not be manipulated by others.
We also see Marlon manipulating Truman on the unfinished bridge in the scene where he is
reunited with his so called Dad. Through the use of dialogue when Marlon says ‘I would never
lie to you” after Christoph (the director of the show Truman is unwittingly starring in) says
these words through a microphone into an earphone that Marlon wears and through the use of
camera shots when there is a close up of Christoph saying the line, then it cuts back to a mid
shot of Marlon repeating the line. This shows us that not everything is always as it seems, and
even people who are closest to us can lie to our faces, I think the directors purpose is to make
us realise that we should not let people lull us into a false sense of security by reassurance with
empty promises.
Marlon from the film The Truman Show showed me how easily people can be manipulated by
others through the camera techniques and dialogue used when he was manipulating Truman,
and that we need to be careful and realise when we are being lied to.
388 words
Next Steps –



Write more. The brevity of this response means it doesn’t give enough
information. It only mentions three camera shots (2 different ones) and two
short examples of dialogue. More camera shots and pieces of dialogue are
needed to convince us the candidate has a good understanding of the film. What
would have been convincing is the use of “cinematic techniques” in the
introduction instead of just “camera shots and dialogue”. (Too late to include it
in the conclusion.) That would have given the student more scope to have a
convincing answer. It needs to show us when and how Truman worked out he
was being lied to. It also doesn’t explain how we know when we are being lied
to.
More analysis. It doesn’t give enough specific analysis of the use of camera shots
and dialogue; i.e. it doesn’t explore and interpret (Explanation Notes 2) which is
what is needed for Achieved.
It needs more perceptive, well developed, valid comments.