Coming down the mountain
This write up will be exploring the way Mise-en-scene,
sound, camera work and editing represents disability in this clip.
In the opening scene there are two teenage brothers a
bedroom. One of the brothers is a normal teenage boy and his younger brother
has down syndrome. In the opening scene, a bird’s eye view shot is used to show
the dramatic and clear difference between the two brothers as they share a
room. One side of the room (the brother with downs) is really messy, colourful
and has toys and cloths everywhere, which shows the childishness of the younger
brother, whereas the other side of the room is grey, dark, tidy and boring.
This shows that the other brother is much more grown up, which makes him resent
his other brother.
Additionally, disability can be represented through the use
of the soundtrack. Throughout the scene the soundtrack is up-beat and happy.
This gives us some understanding into what the brother with downs mind is like.
It shows us that he is still young at mind, which is a stereotypical portrait
of a young child with downs. The downs syndrome child is also portrayed as a
typical down by the way he speaks and what he says. In the beginning of the
clip the younger brother is shown saying ‘I need a poo’ this shows the viewers
that he is a stereotypical child with downs as he seems as if he always needs
help from others and struggles to do anything on his own. This furthers the
idea that the younger brother is a typical down syndrome child. Furthermore, we
hear the older of the two brothers say ‘more than a bit selfish’ this shows how
the older brother takes advantage of younger brother and his disability. It
also implies that the older brother feels as though he is more superior to the
younger brother.
Furthermore, the use of is the camera shots and angles can
represent disability in a number of ways. The first camera shot I noticed was a
high a high angle shot. This is used on the younger brother with downs to show
she is in a vulnerable position and is vulnerable throughout his life due to
his disability. It also portrays how the older brother is in a better position
than the child with downs and looks down on him. Another camera shot I noticed
is a medium shot. This is used on both brothers to show that they are stood
together. This reinforces the fact that the older brother has to look after the
younger one due to his disability. A final shot I noticed was an establishing
shot. This is used to show the environment the two brothers live in and how they
differentiate from each other.
Finally, disability can be presented in a number of ways
through the use of editing. One effect is the use of a montage. This is used to
show the family holiday the family go on each year and how they have to go on
the same one even though to the older brother’s disapproval due to the younger
brothers’ disability.
