Summary Film Study Guide - Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting - Danny Boyle
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Module
English HL
Institution
Reddam House College
A comprehensive, colour-coded and point form study guide on Danny Boyle's films (Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting). It includes notes on camera shots, camera angles, editing, plot, sound and music, characters, themes and genres, motifs, and colour. This includes all the unique points I ended u...
Camera • The film introduces the climax immediately • The opening shot of the film immediately
Shots - “it is written” establishes the setting and introduces our
• Boyle’s cinematographic techniques invite protagonist.
us into the mind of the protagonist, and • Hand held camera immerses audience in
the world in which they live. the high adrenaline scene whereas a fixed
• first full head shot of Jamal taken with a camera would have given it an inauthentic
handheld camera. This invites us to quality.
emotionally identify with Jamal - he is an • Reverse tracking shot - documentary-like
outcast in this environment. We can see in a surreal natured film.
this in the expression of discomfort and • POV shot is also used in the chase - puts
how his pale shirt stands out in the dark the viewer in the line of action and allows
background of the set of the show. audience to identify with him.
• Opening scene begins with extreme close • Renton is hit by a car and it switches to
up of Jamal’s face, showing the intensity POV of the driver - Renton laughs and
of the situation and his emotions of fear smiles when hit by the car which is the first
and intimidation. indication of his drug use
• The hand held camera and tilt angles also • Camera cuts to Renton’s house with a
unsettle the audience, making things feel fixed camera - this is a more dependable,
off-balance. permanent environment as opposed to the
• Prem moves into this shot with an chaotic chase.
opposite expression of staged excitement, • The shot of Renton smoking interrupts the
showing that he is comfortable in this chase, the audience does not know if he
territory, which shows the difference in was caught.
supposed class and position in society. • Extreme close ups of Renton smoking -
• Over the shoulder shot of Jamal immerses gives audience an idea of his habits and
audience in the action. the condition of his skin, how deeply he
• When Jamal and the presenter initially inhales the smoke. He gives off a carefree
walk out, the shot is from behind and they and content-with-life impression here
occupy an equal amount of space in the despite his concerning habits linked to
frame, however towards the end of the addiction.
frame, the presenter moves into Jamal’s • Hand-held camera returns with the football
half of the frame - the presenter is match to include the audience in their
controlling and tries to diminish Jamal’s experience
chances. • Binocular shot puts us directly into the
• Extreme close up of Jamal’s head being character’s perspective
plunged under water. The bucket is red • Over the shoulder shot places Spud at a
which makes the water seem red, high angle and the interviewers lower - this
correlating to blood, death and torture = emphasises the intimidation and power
impending doom. imbalance.
• A tracking shot from behind shows a man • Ariel fight scene in bar with friend group on
walking into the interrogation room, slowly above balcony - we see the chaos from
moving up his body. Similar to the money their perspective, zooms in on them
shot, we cannot identify the character but • In court Renton is seen in a closeup - he is
their authority is imposing. A long shot vulnerable
reveals the man to be a policeman. Colour • Renton holds the heroin needle over the
is dirty yellow to suggest harsh reality. dark side of his face in extreme closeup,
They want to “loosen his tongue” shows how addiction corrupts and controls
• Over-the shoulder shot of Jamal while the him.
policemen speak. • Camera often films from Renton’s
• Handheld tracking scene is disoriented perspective even when he’s unconscious
and jumpy- it is as though we are part of
the chase with the boys
• Closups of Jamal’s computer screen - his
search is futile
, Slumdog Millionaire Trainspotting
Camera • Bird’s eye view shot of Jamal and the • The chase alternates between high and low
Angles presenter places them in the same angles to show power imbalance as well as
position - they are both governed by a highlight the overall commotion of the
higher authority. This could be a religious scene.
figure or the corrupt media system • Low angle depicts the police as they have
• Arial shot of Latika at the train ration power and authority in society while
renders her vulnerable and foreshadows Renton is defenseless.
the future when her vulnerability is
abused. She smiles and this intrigues
viewers as to what is making her happy.
• Tilt/slant angles are used predominantly in
scenes depicting antagonists (corrupt and
malicious characters) e.g. Maman and his
thugs - this shows their lack of moral
centre. The children are tilted to show their
enduring of unusual obstacles. It puts the
audience on edge and makes them feel
unnerved.
• Arial shot of the slums seems infinite
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