Coming Over the Mountain Essay Question

Coming over the mountain

Props are used like the bedding, which is different for the two characters. Ben has a colourful and childish bed sheet whereas David is plain and simple, stereotypical to a teen’s format. This instantly represents the characters in two different ways and shortly after we find out that the use of bedding is because of his disability. Props that Ben use like the gadget, kite and the ice cream show his child like personality and are a part of a semantic field of a ‘child’. The lighting contrasts the two characters as it is seems to be darker on Ben compared to David. This may have been done to show that disability is represented in a ‘dark light’ and is frowned upon by people in society.

The voiceover of David in the first scene can show he is like the fatherly figure of Ben. This is shown throughout as when they leave the house the audience get a feel that David has full responsibility of Ben as he relies on David’s actions to get him to places. Disability is represented as incompetent and has no social responsibility. Dialogue has a huge part to play in the way the characters are portrayed. The scene where they are both at the breakfast table arguing about the cereal shows the patronising dialogue of David towards Ben and the immature language of "I'm going for a poo". With the use of patronising language- which seems to not be understood by Ben, it represents how the disable are slow in the mind. The immature language of Ben also represents the child-like personality, which is also exaggerated by the props. The music has a subtle part to play although does display the emotions of Ben. When the camera is on Ben the music becomes quite basic and soft. As an audience we begin to feel sorry for him as the music reflects the way his life is represented in Ben's eyes: hard to comprehend.

Camera angles are sometimes higher for David in comparison to Ben to show the power David has. The use of a high angle shot when David is talking to his friend with Ben in the background makes him look significantly smaller. The high angle is effective in this way as it shows how disability is viewed as less important or powerful figure in society. Also, the use of Close ups of David is to show the emotions of him in comparison to the lack of emotions Ben has. It was used in the first scene- when the voiceover is non-diegetic and is a pan around his face. The emotions of David show how bored he is of the constant looking after of his brother, and match the voiceover which is said in a dull voice. Moreover, although Ben's facial expressions is also presented by a close up the emotion is hard to identify or can be seen as the viewer of having none.

Lastly, the order of narrative is very important as David is introduced first instead of Ben. As a viewer we question this scene, why is Ben not introduced first? The viewer attaches a message that maybe David is more important that Ben and is the protagonist. The transitions of shots shows how Ben is seen to be quite stressed and anxious by his body language. This happens when Ben is left on his own after his brother had gone off with his friend. The quick transitions show how it is hard for Ben to deal with the surroundings and other actions of individuals near him. Therefore, we start to feel sympathy and put in perspective the life he has to deal with. The pace throughout is generally neither fast nor slow, but again in one of the shots of Ben the pace is slower. Again this is when Ben is on the bus back home alone. The pace implies the slowness of their thoughts and actions compared to the rest of society which is represented by other individuals on the bus.