17.09.2014 RESEARCH: NOWHERE BOY

I watched Nowhere Boy. 

A film starring Aaron Taylor Johnson and directed by Sam Taylor Wood in 2009, set in Liverpool. I analysed the visual codes, such as camera angles for example tracking shots, camera movement and shot types such as a two person shot, using technical codes as well. An example of a two person shot was a scene between Aunt Mimi and John Lennon in the kitchen facing the sink. Aunt Mimi has her back turned to John behind her. This emphasises the fact that the two of them are by themselves having suffered the loss of Johns uncle, George. 

I also looked at the sound aspect of the film such as dialogue of characters such as John Lennon and Aunt Mimi. For example speaking with a Liverpudlian and the idiolect of each character. I also looked at the soundtrack of the film such as typical, brassy, Elvis Presley style music from the 1950s and the emotions it connotes. 

The opening scene of an establishing shot of a grand, sand stone building with Georgian Pillars lining the outside structure of the building. The building appears to be listed due to the era it was built and statue outside; making it a historical landmark such as a city library in Liverpool. This makes the audience feel imposed by the grandeur of the building, being influenced by it imperious, splendour and superior architecture as the building appears to be important. 

The following scene depicts John quickly running through the atrium of the grand building (possible city library of Liverpool), gasping for air in exhaustion yet laughing and smiling in excitement. The size of the building compared to John is massive, John is conveyed as tiny (much like the size of an ant) compared to the massive, superior building. Possibly indicating that he is an extremely 'small fish in a big sea' in terms of his education, his musical career and his life in general. There is always going to be somebody better than you or a superior force such as your parent/carer that can stop you from doing what you want. For example the pillars appear to be 'looking over' John like a parent; this could possibly be a representation of Johns Aunt Mimi who is strict, conservative and doesn't understand Johns bubbly, fun and humorous personality. 

Straight after there is a quick, match cut to the John being strictly woken up by his Aunt Mimi. Aunt Mimi is depicted as aggressive, for example in the way she speaks and her actions; such as she shouts "Don't ignore me!" and snatches Johns duvet off his back in a hostile, violent manner. Therefore making him abruptly wake up due to the change in temperature and bright, morning sunlight shining through his bedroom window making him squint. Compared to the previous scene which depicts John as a fun loving, care free, humorous teenager, Aunt Mimi is conveyed as strict, austere and lacking in humour. From looking at this scene they both have very different personalities perhaps due to their age.