essay

1. Comingdown the MountainClip.
Mis enscene
Sound
Editing
Camera
The firstthingwe see inthe clipisan establishingshot of the charactersbedroom. The roomis
clearlydividedintwosides,one withthe disabledbrotherscolourful andfull of teddy bearsand
childishtoysandthe otherwithplane bedsheetsandbooksonthe shelves. Thisshowstothe
audience thatthere isa cleardifference whenitcomestothe mindsetof disability. Also,the more
colourful side of the roomhasa bigger half;thiscouldmeanthe parentsof these twochildrenwant
the disabledchild’slifebetterbecausetheyfeel sorryforhimsospoil himwithall these toys. The
dialogue istellingthe audience abouthisthoughtsof ‘killinghisbrother’ givingthe audience the feel
that he is a burdenonhimas he doesn’twanthimaroundanymore. The musicisalsocontrasting
whatis beingsaidasit isquite upbeatandhappy,withthe dialogue talkingabouthow he wantsto
kill hisbrother. The directorhaschosento doa trackingshotaround the normal brother’s face
showinghisexpressiontowardshis brother;itisshowntobe verycalmin comparisontohis
thoughts.The nextshotisthen cut away to hissleeping disabledbrother.Thisshotmakeshimlook
vulnerable andhelpless.Thisisfollowedbya montage of David’s thoughts;these appeartobe very
complex andintelligentthoughtsaboutevolutionandhumans.Thisisthencutto a close up of Ben’s
face while Davis’sthoughtsare callinghim ‘abigpotatowitheye tentacles’givinghimanddisabled
people abad name andessentiallycallingthemuselessorhelpless.The directorthenputsinacut
away toDavid’sface to showthe audience hisreactiontoBen.Thisshowshimto not be impressed
whichcontrastswiththe musicplayinginthe back groundof an upbeatBeachBoyssong on their
radio. The fast movingcutsand jumpshotseditinginclearlyshowsthe tensionbetweenDavidand
hisparents.Thiscan be comparedtothe longercutsbetweenBenandhismotherwhoclearly
speaksverysoftlyandina simple mannerto Benas he is disabled.The audience canheara police
sireninthe back groundof the scene of Davidtalkingabouthow sausagesare made showinghow
eventhough Benisdisabledhe still have tolive andfunctioninanormal society.
As DavisandBen walkto the busstop,there isa difference intheirmannerisms. Benwalksbehind
Davidshowinghowhisdisabilitymeanshe hastorelyonsomeone toleadhimeverywhere inlife
and he needsguiding. The montage thenshowsall the differenttoysBenplayswithona regular
basisshowingushowhe is a lotmore childishforhisage.The directorhadchosento editDavid’s
voice overthe top of the musicthat has now carried onand he is tellingthe audience abouthis
struggle of Ben’sdisabilitytellingthe audience how he isn’tthe disabledone yetitstill affectshima
lot.
The directorthan chose to put an overthe shouldershot toshow us whatDavidhas drawn onthe
desk.Thisshowsthe audience histalentfordrawing.He isthenquestionedbyhisteacher aboutthe
lessonandisable to answerimmediatelyshowinghisintelligence withcontrastswithhisbrother’s
simple mind-ness.There isnext aconversationaboutapartywithDavidand a friend where he is

2. askedif he is ‘baby-sitting’Benagain.Thistellsthe audiencethatdisabledpeople are seenachildish
and unable tofendforthemselves. The directorchose toputa twoshot withDavidand Ben, thisis
contrastingthe twoand howdifferenttheyare withBenwantingtogohome and Davidwantingto
go out.
On the bus,the last scene inthisclipissloweddownintoslow motion.Thiscouldrepresenthow
slowBenthinksandhowhe isscared by thisbus journeybyhimselforhow guiltyDavidfeelsfor
leavinghimalone onthe busafterhe had earlierspokenaboutvulnerable he isandhow muchhelp
ne needs.
Thisclipdefinitelyagreeswiththe generalisationandsocietiesthoughtsondisabilitiesasitportrays
themas a burdenand notas useful as‘normal people’.