Reasearch Task- Conversation Piece

IDENTIFY THE GENRE USED

The genre that this film belongs to is very unclear. Although this is a very well made and interesting short film, it is very hard to pin point where it belongs. I personally feel that this film belongs to the social realism genre, even though the sound used is very surreal, it still deals with every day life within a relationship.

HOW DOES THE PIECE USE GENRE CONVENTIONS UNIQUELY?

The use of sound is something that i have never seen before in a social realist film. Many people use very little, if any, sound effects when making a film of the social realism genre, but this film breaks the mould and has no dialouge what so ever.

HOW DOES THE FILM USE THE SHORT FILM NARRATIVE?

Due to the 5 minuites restrictions that this film has the story is deliverd very quickly. It is obvious that the film is about a relationship between a husband and wife, but the film delivers different parts of the conversation and moods the two are feeling in sections. At first it shows confusion then lust, anger, sadness and finally happines. These emotions are fired through at a rapid rate.

WHAT DO YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT THE USE OF SOUND?

Sound is the most integral feature of this film. There is no dialouge between the two characters at all. The main sound is a jazz track called 'Conversation Piece' which the husband plays on the record player. The instruments that are played on the track are synchronized with the movement of the characters mouth so it appears that the sound is coming out of there mouth instead of speach. Although there is no dialouge, the way in which the instruments are played put across the feeling of emotion in the characters voice. For example, when the woman shouts the trumpet moakes a loud blast of random notes and when the husband is confused the trombone plays random confusing notes at diferent pitches.

THEMES AND ISSUES

The film appears to symbolise the different feelings and emotions that a couple goes through in a relationship. Many different feelings are portrayed through the use of body language and music. The film also delt with the representation of the sexes. Both of the characters where branded with traditonal representations. The male character was seen as a lazy guy who didnt help his wife and just read a newspaper. The wife was seen as the one who cooks and cleans, does all the housework, is overly emotional and nags her husband.