'Slap' analysis

'Slap' analysis

 'Slap' is a 2015 short film directed by Nick Rowland and it is about twenty five minutes long.

The narrative of 'Slap' deals with identity, sexuality and gender identity as well as how these things can be difficult to come to terms with in the face of social and cultural ideas that are sometimes opposed to these things. The short film opens with a tense scene as Conner promtly attempts to cover up his make up from his dad showing how he hides his identity from the people he is close to. The opening scene is then juxtaposed with a scene of Conner boxing training showing the contrast between two binary opposites of cultural gender roles, introducing the theme of duality in Conner's identity in the film. Conner is conflicted between being vulnerable to his friend, Archie, and helping him or letting him get hurt. Conner opens up to Archie and Archie accepts his identity. He then embraces his new identity and is proud of it, however his vulnerability leaves him open to getting hurt by the ridicule and insults. Despite his openness to Archie, Conner is still insecure in his sexuality as demonstrated by his repulsion towards the kiss. Conner's actions cause Archie to betray his trust and he also loses his girlfriend, Lola as a result of his theft. At the end of the film Conner goes into the ring to try and prove his masculinity to everyone but has lost the people close to him. Conner's violent outburst is an example of the negative behaviour that people with feelings of shame who have been rejected by people close to them can exhibit. The narrative shows how being vulnerable about your identity can open you up to be hurt as well as how our prejuidices can affect people.

Mise en scene is an important part of 'Slap' which conveys some of the themes of the short film through visual iamges. The overtly sexual posters and magazines in Conner's room could possibly be showing his attempts to outwardly portray a sexuality that is different to his own, reflecting how he hides his identity from his friends and family. The use of mirrors in the film including a broken mirror at one point convey the duality in Conner's character, confused by two conflicting identities he is situated between. The shots of Conner looking at himself the mirror also show the self reflection he goes through in this film and how it causes him to change and develop as a character. Whilst Conner is in his room the scene cuts between shots of him boxing and dancing showing the duality in his identity once again. The shot of Conner hiding around the corner from Archie whilst wearing a dress and his make up encapsulates his life and how he has to hide a part of it from his friends. The tracking shot that follows Conner as he first embraces his new identity in public shows his change in character as he walks confidently in the centre of the frame with his head held up down the middle of the street where anyone can see him. The colours in the party scene are very important for conveying meaning, the green tinge in the toilets reflects feelings of disgust, possibly the feelings Conner has as Archie kisses him and those of Lola in this scene. The red in the main party hall is an extension of the rage and anger that the characters feel in this scene as Conner is angered by Archie's advances and his betrayal of trust, this also shows the build up of anger that leads to Conner's outburst in the next scene. The shot of the empty door at the end of the short film represents the relationships Conner has lost in his life and the sad music playing in this scene emphasises this.

The narrative of 'Splash' explores a variety of points of view which is a possibility because of the long run time for a short film. The main character and focus of the short film is Conner, his character can represent anyone who feels like they have to hide a part of themselves from the people around them, his journey of self acceptance ends tragically as he loses his friends in the process. Conner is a subversion of the typical male protagonist in films as he defies gender norms of masculinity. Conner's confliction between two identities is relatable to most people and especially younger views as he feels torn between boxing which gains him the approval of his father and friends and his interest in make up and female clothing which he feels is something to be shameful of and to hide. Whilst his scenes of new found self acceptance and pride might of marked the end of other films, 'Slap' takes a more real approach. The ridicule and insult that Conner is exposed to are tough to watch and cause him to despair at the fact that his happiness must come with such a punishment. As his identity is rejected by his girlfriend and his friend whom he thought he trusted he resorts to a more masculine identity as well as an agressive one. Archie initially is a good friend to Conner and embraces him for who he is, he also respects his friendship with Conner as he does not tell Lola however after Conner hits him he exposes Conner's secrets to Lola. Archie's character reflects well meaning people who can be distanced unintentionally by those who are still insecure in themselves. At the beginning of the short film Lola has a close relationship with Conner, she comes to watch Conner train and is affectionate towards him, she also tells Conner how proud she is of him after he helps Archie. Lola's character changes after she learns of the secrets Conner has been keeping from her including that he stole some of her valued property, she is distraught by this, curses out Conner and leaves him. Lola's character is an example of how people hiding their identity can affect the people closest to them and completely change their feelings towards eachother. Conner's father although a smaller character in the short film reflects an authorative figure in Conner's life who teaches him to partake in typically masculine activities and potentially is one of the reasons why Conner feels the need to hide his identity.