Analysis of About a Girl

About a Girl’ Analysis – 2001
Geoff Boyle - Cinematographer
Writer - Julie Rutteford
Budget - £33,000
9 Minutes long

About a girl vs. About a Boy, warm feeling, innocence vs. guilt, SF vs. mainstream
Messages about content via title sequence, message within technology
First shot, silhouette, scenery, youth culture, fandom, superiority or shot, on hill – Escapism, assertive song, reflects personality? Clouds.
Pathetic Fallacy, where the weather imitates the mood of the action
Britney – Pure innocent Christian – grew up too fast / Girl – not pure, not innocent, secrets – grew up too fast (Identifying with character, singing/dancing
Huge contrast/juxtaposition, character, walls, urban area, trapped in surroundings, gates, isolates, situation, status, secrets, earnings, not hiding being her face, still a child, becoming of age.
Verbal Diarrhoea – strong accent.
Lower class, not close to her family, only talks to herself
Gritty housing estate, playground, dogs, siren, atmosphere setting scene
Swearing at her dad, problems, realises what’s going on
Camera moving erratically, in and out, reflects inner turmoil, unpredictable, personality
“I’m not a kid!” – Trying to show she’s growing up, pregnant, static shot! Dad shows no interest in daughter – unemployed.
She wants to be included with her dad, but wishes he thought about what she wanted.
Has maternal comments – pity – bless
“I’ve had enough!” – Shot panning away, full colours, grey de-saturated. “Stronger than yesterday.”
Wants’ to be famous – girls together smells perfume. Leader authoritative personality. Smart
Got a lot to say, she’s assertive, cheeky, ambitious
Escapism, Stereophonics, Madonna, pop culture. Dream World.
More sinister air to it, strawberry sauce, blood, references her vulnerability. More stationary shots.
What’s in the bag? Becoming darker. Foretelling what happens
Talking stops her thinking.
Kills baby, dismisses it, sings to hide it, wants’ a 99 flake. Hard hitting issues. Mum doesn’t pay attention.
Baby in bag, nobody notices. Bag is like her, disposable, throw it away. Gives birth to the baby. Bag floats towards the grate, trapped.
Symbolic of people in society being so dismissive and not conceiving issues that are hard in society.