Claire Williams is the main protagonist who is a cancer patient in the last stages of her life. She wears dull clothing to represent her physical and emotional exhaustion. Claire's mother Helen tries to support her and remains optimistic, wearing brightly colored clothes. Claire's best friend Isabel is also a countertype as she is extroverted and lively despite being a black female character. Another friend Rachel is typically presented positively as a caring person, unlike stereotypical portrayals of black teenage girls, as she wears black but is calm and compassionate.

1. REPRESENTATION By Precious Oladimeji

2. CLAIRE WILLIAMS
Our main protagonist is a cancer patient who is going through
her last stages of her life, which is exemplified through our
mise-en-scene (props e.g. an oxygen mask). Claire wears dull
clothing throughout the majority of the film when she’s writing
a letter on her bed. The dull clothing and a black bandana
represents her energy and how she is emotionally and
physically drained especially as her days become limited. This is
ironic as her name is Claire, which means light, although she is
outwardly exhausted she is inwardly still positive and hopeful
just as her name implies. The colour black is commonly
associated with death, which helps to foreshadow that Claire is
going to dies or that she could possibly die sooner than
expected. The theme of death is also conveyed by her skin
colour which is pale and almost ghostly which helps the
audience to identify that there could be a possible death. Claire
conforms to a stereotypical representation of a cancer patient
as they are usually very selfless and try to put on a bold face for
people around them to try and be positive.

3. HELEN WILLIAMS
Claire’s mother is represented to be a supporting
character who tries her best to make Claire’s
remaining days as positive as they can be. Claire’s
mother is her adoptive mother, therefore she is a
different race to her (black). Black women are typically
represented as quite loud and vocal, however, Claire’s
mother is a countertype as she has a submissive and
quiet nature as she needs to remain positive and
optimistic for her daughter so that Claire doesn’t see
her mother suffering. Claire’ mother’s personality is
manifested through her costume (mise-en-scene) as
she wears brightly coloured clothes which has a
connotation of cheerfulness and hope.

4. ISABEL THOMAS
Isabel is a young black female who is Claire’s
best friend and has stuck with her through
thick and thin. Usually, black characters are
portrayed to be the sidekick friend who helps
and supports the main character of a different
race, even though in this case it is true, our
character Isabel is still a countertype as she is
not presented as loud or angry as most black
females are presented. In fact, she is more
extroverted and lively than Claire. Isabel wears
bright coloured clothing to mirror her
personality. Bright colours, such as blue,
connote a feeling of happiness and joy which is
exactly what we wanted her character to be like.

5. RACHEL ADAMS
Rachel is a young black female who is one of
Claire’s closest friends who even goes to her
funeral. She is presented positively compared to
how most black best friends are seen in films.
Most black teenage girls are seen as sassy with
some type of attitude however, Rachel is shown to
be caring and compassionate in both flashbacks
Claire shows, one being before the treatment and
one being at her grave. Just like Isabel, Rachel is a
countertype as she is a calm and collected
character and in the scenes she’s in she mostly
wears black. Although black is usually associated
with negativity and evil, she is the complete
opposite of this stereotype.