Luke Taylor: Short Film Analysis (Blog Assignment #2)

Bunny:

                I thought this was a great film. I’d like to focus more on the oven in this film. I love the idea of what the oven represents; as we said in class, it ‘transforms’ things that enter into it. For example, when one places cookie dough in an oven they transform into a different figure and create delicious cookies. In the film, Miss Bunny (hopefully a sufficient name) crawls into the oven and is transformed into a ‘different figure.’ As the cookie dough transforms into this new, greater being if you will, Miss Bunny does the exact same thing by transforming into a greater being. She is no longer living in the agony of the loss of a loved one but is now on her way to be reunited. In addition, at the very end of the clip the camera focuses back on the photo of Mr. and Mrs. Bunny at their wedding day. What is interesting is that two moths reflect off of the glass and their wings become one with the photo and are placed on the back of the couple, giving them wings in the photo. This is symbolic because it shows us as the audience that Mr. and Mrs. Bunny have been reunited and transformed into ‘greater beings.’ Great film.

Harold and Maude

                What I would like to focus on in this film is Maude’s description of how the flowers/graves represent humans. I thought it was very interesting how she pointed out that we have become almost okay with accepting ourselves as regular people in our society. She talks about how we are all just a bland group of people and that every person is the same- thus the graves representing us plain, ordinary, similar people. She also mentions how we have the capabilities to be like flowers. That from far away, from a surface level we all may seem the same but from a closer up look we are much more than that. A flower is full of beautiful things; it has different shapes and sizes, different color, different smells, different meanings, etc. Every type of flower is different and unique and that is the point Maude is trying to make, that each person may look the same on the outside but no one person is the same. Psalms 139:14 talks about how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God. That NO one in this entire world is the same. Maude understands that and makes a beautiful analogy of comparing us to flowers but capturing the sad sight of a society that sees us as the same representing ‘graves.’

Buffalo

                What I would like to focus on for this film is when the car is carrying the casket to upper grounds. What is distinctly interesting about this scene is the beautiful shot of the mountains. For such an unfortunate scene of a body having to be moved after many complications, the view of the mountains is almost this depiction of false advertising. The mountains become this representation of stability, hope, but most of all, transcendence. They are the highest up point in the setting and represent this dead body on the way to transcendence to the heavens. In addition, they are also lit up. They are the brightest area to the film which compliments the ‘heavenly’ feel that the director is trying to portray in his scene.

Paris Texas

                The scene I would primarily like to focus on in this film is when Travis and his wife are reunited and have just shared each other’s stories. The moment they both turn towards one another to communicate is especially significant. For one thing it represents this unification. It is such a powerful moment when director plays off of their reflection and make their faces combine together as though they have connected and become one. For the first time in a long time they are back together, unified and on the same page. Their physical connection is broken because of a big wall/mirror/window that separates them and keeps them from truly being together; however, the deeper connection is clearly visible when the director plays with their reflection and uses the creamer angle to signify that they are one.

Pink Floyd

                Well this was odd. I do not have too much to say about this film. I guess the thing I would prefer to focus on was the consistent creativity of the director. In the animated scenes there were constant shapes changing to fit the symbolism which kept my attention and attentiveness throughout the entire clip. In addition, I thought it was very interesting how so many ‘monsters’ collaborated together and ganged up on the ragdoll that sat against the wall. To me, it made me think of how some people can be in the society we live in. Very quick to gang up on and scare/bully others who do not know where they stand. The ragdoll was not given a face; in fact, it was very plan and ordinary. That ragdoll could very well represent the brokenness in the world that people hold onto. By ‘punishing’ themselves they try to erase their identity and let ‘monsters’ put them in their place. I do not think that was the intent of the director but that’s what I saw when I watched that scene.

Cabeza De Vaca

                In this film I thought it was particularly interesting when de vaca was trying to run away. I saw this scene as more than him physically running away but compared it to people in our everyday lives. There are times where we are always trying to run, to hide from God and do not what to be obedient in what his plans are for us. In the bible, Jonah decided to not be immediately obedient with God and tries to run away just like de Vaca. What is interesting is that no matter how fast or far away de Vaca gets, he ends up right back where he started. Similarly, no matter how far Jonah tries to go, God brings him back and doesn’t lose sight of him. I thought the parallel between the two were really cool and wanted to share that about this film.