Over (2015)

 Over (2015) is a short thriller directed by Jorn Threlfall which depicts the story of an incident, which we later learn is a death, occur in a London neighbourhood. The film is depicted in a non-chronological order, consequently making the spectator question and think, attempting to figure out what is actually happening amongst all the ambiguity, all of which is revealed at the end.  

In terms of the cinematography, the majority of the film utilises wide shots, with monetary mid shots or close ups which offers us insight into what is actually happening in the film. The initial use of an establishing wide shot to set the context portrays the neighbourhood in a quiet and calm manner, a car pulling into the street whilst everything is consumed by darkness. This is repeated in the next shot where it is morning and another car pulls in, a couple getting out and the woman approaching the grass, hinting to the spectator that a death has happened due to the presence of flowers on the grass, shown in a mid shot with a shallow depth of field, therefore emphasising its significance as the spectator is directed to look at them. The camera then cuts to t4he next shot, wide shot, of a figure dressed in neon orange cleaning the front of the car, the initial ambiguity of this shot is soon dispersed as the camera cuts to a close up of the pavement, a red liquid which we assume to be blood, being washed away by the cleaning hose. This suggestion of a crime / murder / death occurring is further elevated in the next shot where there is a sequence of close ups of a person's clothing and shoes, their muddy and worn out condition contrasting with the simple wood background, the sanitary packaging reinforcing the sense that something has happened. This abrupt cut is extremely effective as it contracts with the previous natural serenity, the leaves blowing, therefore engaging the spectator in the story. There is then a short blurred shot of a body bag and a cut to police searching the small garden in the neighbourhood, a sense of quiet being re-established after the sounds of the bodybag. This long take of the police and forensics allows the spectator time to observe and think, still unsure of exactly what has happened. The sequence of mid shots of the persons inventory items placed together triggers a sense of deep empathy within the spectator, as still unknowing of exactly what has happened, the loss of a life is always upsetting, with the family photograph emphasising this. The long take close up of the family photo reiterates this. Then the camera cuts back to the neighbourhood, the time being (presumably) before the incident, a flashback, and incredibly unexpectedly a man falls from the sky, a plane passing above the neighbourhood. There is a lack of chaos in this scene, as well as the rest of the film as a car alarm starts blaring yet when the owner turns it off everything is once again silent. 

In mise en scene, there are very few props within the film, however those present carry a heavy significance. The set being a Lonodn neighbourhood in West Kensington creates a sense of naturalism and reality, all appears to be normal, mundane in this environment. However, once introduced with the props of the flowers, there is a clear connotation of death, as they almost act as a memorial site on the side of the street, the woman exiting the car therefore could be argued to be paying her respects. In the cleaning sequence, the bold orange outfit as well as the mask of the man implies that he's handing something sensitive / a contaminant, therefore acting as a first indicator that something truly bad has happened. The following sequence of the items of clothing inside sanitary packaging taken for what appears to be inventory contrasting with the wooden table background highlights the personal items, the scarcity of the table allowing the spectator to fully concentrate on the outfit, trying to decipher exactly what has happened. The items of clothing being simple also puts forth the idea of how anything can happen to anyone, bad things can happen in ‘normal’ places to ‘normal’ people. Towards the end of the short film, the police costumes contrast with the dimmed and dull environment of the neighbourhood, making them and the incident stand out. The close ups of the bloody gloves and balaclava once again makes the spectator question what has happened. A murder? A robbery gone wrong? A death? These props also contrast with the plain background. The following sequence with the victims personal items on the table evoke a sense of deep sympathy within the spectator, this person had a life and a family, they were someone's son. 

In terms of the sound, the film utilises diegetic sound effectively to create a tense yet somewhat serene yet disturbing atmosphere in the short film, the only use of non-diegetic sound being during the credits. The use of silence emphasises the diegetic sounds such as intentional atmospherics of cars, planes, police radios, leaves swaying or birds chirping throughout the film. The lack of chaos and extreme sound, other than in some close ups such as that of the body bag shot or cleaning hose, create a disturbingly calm environment in the film, a silent chaos almost. Even when the man's body crashes onto the car, it isn't very loud, and the car eventually stops beeping the neighbourhood becoming once again engulfed in silence. Thinking about it now, this use of silence could also reflect how the man must have felt, daring not to breathe or make a sound as he tried to make it to his new life. 

Finally, after the last shot, all is explained and the ambiguity disappears as a blank screen states that this is the true story of who tried to come to London Heathrow from Angola in 2012 and fell to his death as the plane began ascending is explained. The day after his 27th birthday. This alongside the song of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ playing during the credits is strikingly heartbreaking. This is by far my favourite short film out of the ones we have studied as it is not only visually striking and executed, however has also most definitely affected me and made me think the most.