The Ellington Kid Analysis

The Ellington Kid (2012)- Dan Sully

There is a lot of dialogue in this film for a short film, but this is because the narrative is in an almost "storytelling style". This is done to represent the social issues surrounding youth and crime. this is shown in the nature of the way the narrator is speaking, in an almost casual and arrogant way glorifying knife crime, however, you can pick apart this creative decision in many ways. It could be a way of showing how the way we have normalised knife crime and become desensitized to it, shown by the manner of speaking, pointing out how we need to change this. However, I feel this could have been more effective if the narrator's character was made quite relatable with the casual kebab shop set up with two mates having a chat. it could also represent how some young peoples lives are wrapped up in gang and knife crimes. However, the audience is not positioned to be aligned with anyone, making the viewer doubt the narrator creating this urban legend/ real-life horror story. 

Focusing on the microelements, knives are almost iconized being very clearly pointed out.  With the close up of the blades and the sound of sharpening being emphasised. Close up shots are used frequently throughout this film when flashbacks are used to tell the story, for example, close-ups on feet stumbling or the bleeding wound of the Ellington. This is almost making the audience see what happened as the other teenager is being described it too. so we know as little like the narrator and his friend does. Putting emphasis on this "story telling" like narrative.