The document analyzes the narrative and stylistic elements of the films "Sister" and "Sign Language" to illustrate techniques used in different genres. "Sister" is classified as a drama due to its emotionally heavy themes around a lost family member and generally sad tone. "Sign Language" incorporates romantic elements like a love interest and feel-good twist ending, making it an example of romance genre conventions despite incorporating aspects of other genres. The document examines visual styles, characters, settings, and plot devices used in the two films to demonstrate techniques common to different genres.

1. Analyse the narrative and stylistic codes and conventions of different film genres using detailed
examples to illustrate points.
Drama – Sister – Siqi Song
https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2019/11/21/sister/
Romance - Sign Language – Oscar Sharp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGfyxzJacLI
The relationship between drama and romance is very strong. It could be argued that it would be
difficult to have one without the other in film. However, as seems to be the trend in terms of genre
identification, the end result usually refelcts many different genres, only to be identified as the one
most dominant. As such Siqi Song’s ‘Sister, is idnetified as a ‘Drama’, due to its emotionally
provocative themes and overall sad tone.
The film follows the narrative of a Chinese boy wondering what his life would have been like if
he had the sister his parents were forced to abort under Chinese law. This makes it perfect for a
dramatic film as the emotional weight of the themes can be explored to whatever length Song felt.
Also the conventional use of a family setting to symbolise lost potential and grief is very common
in this genre, as a lot of people find it the most relatable.
Oscar Sharp’s ‘Sign Language’ puts you in the film, using point of view camera work, and direct
address. We are taken through the last day of work for ‘Ben’, as a sign holder in London. The
romantic element of this film introduces itself when we are made aware of a female character, who
is immediately identified as the love interest. This is crucial in creating a romance, there needs to
be a romantic connection somewhere, this is not an avoidable convention.
The story of ‘Sister’ is mainly linear, but at the end, the ‘punchline’ is revealed as twist on a flash-
back, in which we go back in time to the point at which the film began, to reveal to truth about
what the narrator had been saying. This enables the dramatic ‘punch’ to have a much greater effect,
as the whole film leading up to the last few moments has been setting up the twist ending, as an
emotional surprise for the audience. As well as following the joke structure, I would argue that it
also has a three-act element to it, and we start rather neutrally, the tension rises between the
siblings, and then at the height of the tension, the twist/resolution is revealed.
The characters in ‘Sign Language are also hyperbolised by Ben for comedic effect. This allows
the film to follow a short joke structure, as we expect the characters to be nothing like Ben says,
but in the end, they meet his expectations, and go far beyond ours. Again, a necessary convention
for a romance film, as it should have a ‘feel-good’ mood to it, and show the world in a more
optimistic light.
The sad twist of ‘Sister’ is hinted at all the way through by the unrealistic events, and the
depressing soundscape, and colour. The characters consist of: the narrator, who is also the

2. son/brother, the sister, and the parents. All of these characters play integral roles in the film as it
is about family, and the impacts on family of Chinese law at the time. This is actually not very
conventional of a drama, as dramas usually rely on larger ensemble casts to stir a bigger pot of
gossip and ‘drama’ than one voice actor could handle. However, often times, less is more, and the
more you can get out of less resources, the better.
‘Sign Language’ also features a twist ending that brings every emotion of the film and forces the
audience to make a conclusion of them. And the conclusion is that: people are kind and lovely and
the world isn’t such a bad place to live in after all. That would be the intended reading of this film.
The twist is that we think the friends of Ben, our hero, are not actually his friends at all and do not
care about him like he thinks they do. All signs point to him being delusional, but at the end it is
revealed that his friends were planning something lovely and wholesome for his last shift – to get
him to talk to the girl he likes. As I said, this creates a ‘feel-good’ atmosphere that is the cornerstone
of romantic films, a sense that love conquers all.
Themes explored in ‘Sister’ include: family, government, politics, remorse, and most importantly,
lost potential. The narrator mourns his aborted sister and spends the duration of the film pondering
on what his life might have been like if the laws were different and he was allowed to have a sister.
This gives the audience something to empathise with, which allows them to connect with the film
and enable it to have a larger impact on them.
Sharp’s ‘Sign Language’ is set in Oxford Circus in London. This is established with a read sign
that reads ‘Oxford Circus’, and Ben saying that London is ‘the most exciting place in the world.’
the setting is very important to this film as it helps solidify the films place as being a comment of
what it means to be British – a Londoner to be specific. Arguably, this film falls more under the
category of being an ‘English film’. By this, I am referring to films like: This is England, Snatch,
and Wild Bill, all of which would no-doubt be difficult to understand and empathise with from the
perspective of an audience member who does not originate from the U.K. This will potentially
alienate people from other parts of the world, but it means that the target audience – of Londoners
presumably – will find the film all the more natural to connect with, as it reflects their real life.
The iconography is very clear in ‘Sign Language’ – and almost blatant in establishing the role of
the characters within society. They all wear clothes that are built for function instead of form, such
as fingerless gloves, and knitted beanies, and they are all carrying a sign or handing out leaflets.
This lets us know that characters are all part of the same community, and all have their profession
in common. This is conventional of a romance narrative as the characters must have some sort of
common ground on which they will form the basis of their relationship.
One important thing to note about ‘Sister’ is that the visual style was clearly chosen very
specifically. Firstly, it has been made using animated stop-motion, which is likely a satirical
comment regarding Song’s opinion of the government, potentially being that they are cartoonish
and don’t know which way they are going to move next. Secondly, the majority of the film is in
black and white, however, the colour red is visible. Usually in fiction, the colour red represents
passion, and energy, and life. However, more importantly, it is the predominant colour of the
Chinese flag. This is important because his sister wears a red hairband throughout the course of

3. the film, even as a foetus, symbolising the sense of identity that the narrator feels his sister would
have given him, had she been allowed to live. This is indicative of the drama genre as the characters
are usually forced to go through a traumatic experience, and romanticise it for the remainder of the
film.
The style of ‘Sign Language’ is point of view, direct address shooting, to give it a very personal
touch, and allow us to connect with the character and his world as much as possible in under three
minutes, before the climax of the narrative, at which point, we are supposed to care enough about
Ben to have the ending be impactful. The film also relies on the extremes of camera positions - i.e.
close ups/long shots - to show a contrast, and a divide regarding, what Ben thinks, and the reality.
It is not uncommon to see a romantic protagonist that is unreliable due to the fact that we can-not
trust them to always see things objectively, especially in matters of romance. For example, Nick
Carraway in The Great Gatsby is constantly the subject of interrogation by the audience/reader, as
he contradicts himself, and says things that we as the audience know- or think to be untrue.
‘Sister’ is identified by https://www.shortoftheweek.com/ as being a drama, and I would have to
agree. The emotional journey that this film takes you on is certainly ‘dramatic’, but there is no
romantic element, that would otherwise make this film a romance.
In terms of genre identification, I had to think about ‘Sign Language’ more than other films, as it
has aspects of many different genres, in accordance with Henry Jenkins’ genre theory. However,
I have obviously concluded the film to be a romance as that is the most compatible genre with
the conventions that I have identified.
In conclusion, the distinction between genres is quite subjective, and down to small details that a
casual viewer would not even think to look for. And rightly so. You should not have try and look
for the genre of the film you’re watching, you watch it, and decide afterwards because to an
extent, no one will have the same genre perception as another.