Slap

 Short Film Research – Slap (2015)

This rather harrowing film displays a young man raised to be a boxer as they navigate the complexities of their own gender identity, culminating in those around them rejecting him for who they are. It’s a much more solemn film than I’d like to make, but it does an excellent job of tapping into the socio-political context surrounding it.

I especially liked the use of editing in this film, as (in particular) the opening sequence is constructed in a way that gives the audience a very personal glimpse into the life of the protagonist. It utilises several close up shots with a slow editing pace to create a tender moment of self-discovery that the audience is given a privileged position to observe. After their dad interrupts, the film suddenly jumps into a more masculine environment, using over-the-shoulder shots, shaky cam, and a faster editing pace to situate the audience with the panic of the protagonist in this moment. The montage sequence later in the film, too, uses editing to display to the audience the two sides of the protagonist’s personality, cutting between the masculine boxing and the feminine dancing, building a sense of conflict and excitement.

While this film is made very well, I’d definitely stray away from these heavier themes. Not only am I unquipped with the experiences necessary to interrogate these ideas, but I also find that, while these films are vital for cultural awareness and change, they deservedly and necessarily make for heavy watching, which is something that, while they weaponize this effectively, I don't wish to create myself. I'm aiming more towards a straight-forward, fun, upbeat narrative, rather than a melancholic reflection on society’s lack of acceptance for certain peoples. However, this film does demonstrate the raw power of editing, which is something I definitely want to display in my film to secure technical knowhow. None of this, however, should detract from the fact that this is an incredibly well put together film that powerfully communicates its message using this melancholy tone.

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