Assessment Term 2:
Hang Him up
During the week 10Hy were given an assessment to write an Essay based on 3 techniques John.G Avildsen used to film in the Hang him up scene. Down below is my essay and what the 3 techniques were.
During the Apartheid, many people were killed and not given the rights to live freely. In 1992 John G. Avildsen Directed a movie called The Power of One which was based on the Apartheid and the actions of one young South African boy named P.K. As you watch the films you can see how the Director has used particular Techniques to show and describe the mood, and help the audience get a good understanding of what the Apartheid was like. In one of the scenes (The Hang Him up scene) John used several techniques which were, Low angle shot, mid shot, and a close-up. I am going to talk about the following techniques that were used to film the Hang him up scene.
Body
In the Hang Him Up scene, the director uses a low angle shot of Jaapie (a student) standing assertively with one arm raised in the air, as he shouts “Heil Hitler” after Jaapie had killed P.K’s (another student) chicken. The director uses a low angle shot to make Jaapie seem powerful as he stands strongly amongst the crowd raising his arm screaming “Heil Hitler”, with a feeling of pride in his choices. The director’s purpose of using the low angle shot is to help express the mood and outline that Jaapie is feeling the thrill of Victory and power. Which is shown when Jaapie yells “Heil Hitler”. This makes the audience feel as if we are in P.K’s position and we are feeling helpless, and very vulnerable. It’s made us anxious as to what will happen to P.K next. This aspect can be compared to when the director used a close up in another scene to show how scared and vulnerable Geel Piet (a prisoner) was feeling as Sergeant Borman held him against the wall with his baton. This makes us feel the same feelings as we are feeling in this scene.
An addition to the film the director also uses a close-up shot of P.K showing the tension that had been built up as Jaapie had just targeted P.K. For instance, the director has used a close-up in the scene of P.K with blood smeared across P.K’s face as his eyes had begun to water after Jaapie slapped P.K in the face causing him to bleed and then swiping the blood across P.K’s face. The director uses a close up to help portray P.Ks fear and also his bravery as he stood there being very intimidated amongst the crowd and the terrible silence that was interrupted by the sound of Jaapies hand slapping P.K’s face. This helps us as an audience understand the loneliness and helplessness that is shown as P.K has no one to run to for help. We are feeling really dependant on good luck and hope that someone will be his saviour. This reminds me of certain scenes in the film, where there is a lot of vulnerability shown with the black Africans and the need for help against the white Afrikaners.
Another technique the director has used is a long shot of the students in the school lined up, holding ropes that were tied to P.K as the Principal walked in, while Jaapie standing in the middle of the situation. This is demonstrated when the principal walks in and Jaapie Botha stands staunchly as he salutes the principle standing opposite in his direction. The students are standing in silence as they are holding the ropes while P.K is hanging in the air with blood running down his head. This technique has been used by the director to help show the audience the lack of respect and incivility that is characterized by the students and Jaapie Botha himself. As an audience we are able to sense the lack of manners and agitation Jaapie is feeling as he has been caught in a horrible act. This scene has reminded me of a scene in the film where, Geel Piet is forced to eat feces of Sergeant Borman’s shoe, because is shows the disrespect this officer is giving a prisoner, which is really awful to watch.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Avildsen uses a mixture of different camera shots to help create tension and really intense the emotions that were shown during the scenes. The director really connected the audience to the characters using these techniques. This helped us understand how these people felt throughout the Apartheid.
