FILM - Research & Planning: Deconstruction of 'Wasp'

'Wasp' by Andrea Arnold.

Although not a Spaghetti Western, this short, 'Wasp' from Andrea Arnold, will be good to analyse as the director cleverly makes the scenes very tense, which will be important in my film. Unfortunately I can't supply you with the full film, but here's a link to a short clip.


Wasp is a good example of a successful short film and I highly recommend trying to track it down. Everyone who has seen it, loves it.

This film cleverly sets up a scene in an extremely dangerous environment, so that the conclusion almost forces a sigh of relief. Firstly, the five female characters look very vulnerable, but close and in unity, emphasised by the shot of the five together sticking their fingers up. The 4 younger characters are likeable, because of the childish songs and voices, and the mum, although her actions are entirely innapropriate, she is shown to be trapped and with no other choice: the dialoge highlights that she had a difficult previous boyfriend who we can only assume left her with four children, and inadequacy as a mother highlights not her own bad choices but more that she is desperate for help, and company. So we want her to have success on her night out, and with the kind, likeable Dave.

One of the signs of a good short film is that the you connect to the characters quickly, as this is difficult to accomplish in such a short time. The harsh urban environment and convincing acting from these kids certainly help in 'Wasp'.

So we want her to have success, and none of the five to come to any harm. But danger seems to be everywhere. Every shot of the kids outside provoke an inevitable feeling of doom. Firstly, her plan is crazy and, as soon as you realise her intentions, you begin to feel helpless. But the danger is emphasised by many strange shots throughout. They feel strange because they are not shot shakily, unlike the rest of the film. It is almost like we see through the families eyes and we are on their level, empathising with them and feeling their feelings when the camera is shaky, but the 'danger' shots are different: they are solid and unmoving, and much longer. Its almost like a shot from the omniscient narrator, and because they are different to the rest of the film, the mothers blindness to the danger is emphasised.
Firstly, there is the wasp. The name already highlights that we may think it plays a bigger part in the story, so when it flies of out the window, we feel wary. Wasps have associations of danger because of their stings.

Next, when they are crossing the bridge, there is a prolonged close up of the cars shooting past, the noise of the engines drowning out everything else. This has sinister connotations, firstly with the close up of one of the younger childrens scared face, and then later when they are playing, unnatended, in a car park.
As she walks through the pub, the atmosphere is edgy. There is a panning close up of her frightened face as she squeezes through the crowd, the point of view shot showing her to feel lost and scared.

So with the aid of several shots that make us feel as though her plan will go horribly wrong, the situation is on a knifes edge. Even Dave looks slightly dodgy; when he asks her to buy the drinks, we see a reaction shot of her face where she looks unhappy and still very frightened. In the end, when her plan works and the situation is ok (symbolised by the close up of the kids eating chips), there is a strong feeling of surprise and relief.