Short film review - "The way we played"

I have written a review on a piece of drama I watched called ‘The way we played’ which is set in Bosnia during a war. It is about two boys playing in the spring sunshine. They pretend to be pirates and look for treasure at a nearby abandoned hill fort. Instead of gold they find guns which causes an argument between the friends which mirrors the conflict moving ever closer to their door. When Stevo discovers his father, a soldier in the Serb army, has instructions to kill Muslims in the village he sneaks out to warn his friend.

Both boys are unaware of the danger that is going to take place over night that will change their lives forever. What one of the boys doesn’t know is that his best friend is not going to survive the night. This short film is aimed at children aged 12 years and over, this is because there are some disturbing scenes that will be unsuitable for children. This film was founded by UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund and Scottish Screen.

There are various techniques used to create a representation of the two boys. The mise en scene helps to create a representation of the two boys. Both boys are wearing light coloured cloths; the light colours can connate their innocence and this can also emphasise their vulnerability and naivety that is going to be linked to the situation that is going to take place.

The scene begins with an establishing shot revealing the scenery. The camera shot reveals lots of green land and then at a medium shot it reveals two rows of men performing prayer. There is diegetic music in the background of the Adhan (Call to prayer), this is significant as it adds realism to the atmosphere where the men are praying.

There are many establishing shots of the two boys playing in the green hills of Bosnia; the two shot helps establish a relationship between the two boys and that they are equally important in the film. When the boys are talking, the over the shoulder shot of the camera reveals each of the boy’s perspectives-this helps the audience to look at their emotions, thoughts and gestures. The cinematography is very significant in portraying ideas of the boys; for example the bird’s eye view shot is used to show the inferiority of the two boys and the two shot helps show the relationship between the two boys.

Later on in the film, Stevo wakes up after having a bad dream. Lighting is used-such as low key lighting to set the mood for the atmosphere. The room is dark and the audience can only focus on the boys face; with the camera at a close up. The room looks blurred because of the darkness which can connate confusion, uncertainty and uneasiness, all in which could reflect the boy’s mood.

At a later scene, Stevo finds out that his dad is going to go and kill Muslims in their neighbourhood - including his best friend’s family. The non-diegetic and diegetic music combined together creates dramatic music. There are sounds of house burning and sounds of broken glass shattering and the non-diegetic music contributes to the uneasiness of the situation.

The solders kill Ramiz’s family. Stevo runs away and comes across dead people, around burning houses-with the thought that his best friend is no longer alive. The camera at tracking shot follows Stevo as he runs to the hay fields and sits down all curled up. This shows that he is very frightened. The camera at a long shot focuses on the posture of the boy which reveals that he is terrified as his moving backward and forward. The lights then slowly fade and the screen turns blank. This is significant as it allows the audience to think about what happened and build sympathy for the little boy, which seemed hopeless.

The cinematography, sound, lighting and mise en scene have all contributed to create a representation of the two boys. The techniques have also helped to put across key ideas and views. There are many ideas that are put forward about friendship for example friendship is really precious. It was very effective that the two boy’s relationship was used to tell a story about the war in Bosnia as it built more sympathy and remorse.