city of god exam question

1. Analyse the effectthe cameraangleseditingtechniquesandsoundhave onthe audience
In the introductionto‘cityof god’it beginswithasharp quickpleonasticsound fromaknife.This
getseveryone’sattentionrightaway, thissoundisfrequentwithinthe firstsectionof the
introductionhoweverhappyupbeatmusicispairedwithitwhichmakesitseemlesslikeadanger.
People are alsoshowndancingwhichcreatesahappycelebratoryatmosphereandwe feel likewe
are watchinga happycommunity.
The camera cuts fromframe to frame quickly.Thistechnique addedwithmanysoundsliketalking,
musicand the soundof chickensmakesitlookverybusyandpresentsthe notionthatthere isa lot
happening.Thismakesthe audience realise thatthere are alot of people andtheyare all busyand
we get a sense of communityagain.
From the beginningthe chickenisshownoften.Itisshownrightafteranotherchickeniskilled,this
helpsthe audience tounderstandthatthischickeniswatchingthe sacrifice andthe cookingof
anotherchicken.The audiencesfocusisputonthe chickenfromthe verystart as it isa mainfeature.
Thismakesthe audience assume thatthe animal isimportantsomehow andwe shouldwatchit.
Later the chickenrunsaway andwe notice before the mandoeswhichcreatesasense of dramatic
ironywiththe audience,asitmakesthemfeel aheadof the charactersand we know whatis
happeningbeforetheydo.Whenthe chickenisrunningawaythe shotoccasionallyswitchestoits
pointof viewanda trackingshot,thisshowsushow franticthe chase is andalmostgivesyoua sense
of howthe chickenfeelsasthe shotismovingfranticallyandquicklyshowingitmaybe fearful and
determinedtogetaway.Thismightmake some people feelbadforitand theydon’twant the men
and boysto catch it whichcouldmake us feel againstthemslightlybefore we evenfindoutthey
mightbe bad or dangerous.
Whenrocketand hisfriendbumpsintothe manwe assume isin charge as he givesthe ordersto
everyone tocatchthe chicken,the scene goesintoslow motionwhichcreatesadramatic
atmosphere.Itshowsanditshowsrocketlookingscaredor shockedtosee him, thismakesthe
audience realisethatthe leaderandhisgroupcouldbe dangerousor trouble makers.We are
suddenlyexpectingaconfrontationbetweenthe twopartiesaswe realise theyhave noticedeach
other.
Whenthe police arrive androcketis betweentwogroupswithgunsthe cameraspresentthis
informationwithawide shot.Thishelpsthe audience establishwhatishappeningandthatrocketis
indanger.We knowthisbecause the twogroupseitherside himhave gunsonhe is inthe middle of
a confrontationwith‘rebels’or‘hoodlums’andthe police whowe cansee are not fearedof bythe
gang. Thismakesusfear forrocket because we normallyassociatepolicewithsafetyandexpect
themto be trust worthyand helpindangeroussituations,buttheirauthorityisnotrespectedby
them.