The short film uses various camera techniques and shots to tell the story of a couple's relationship from their meeting to their breakup one year later. It begins with the male character alone on a bridge, then shows him meeting the female character and their relationship growing through shots of them together, texting, and developing feelings for one another. However, over time arguments start and their relationship deteriorates, shown through duller shots of them unhappy. In the end, it circles back to shots of the male alone and dejected to represent his broken bond with his former partner.

1. FIRST LOVE
Short film analysis

2. The opening shot displays the title of the short film
with non-diegetic sound of a heart beat. A voice
over is also added which is used throughout the
entire film as the male in the story is explaining the
events. A fade to black is added.
A fade is used to then show a blue sky. This can
express freedom and clarity which may be relating
to the characters position.
A fade is used to show a medium shot of the male
character standing on a bridge looking into the
distance. The mise-en-scene is looking bleak as
though the colour has been drained out of the shot.
This could relate to the males feelings at this
moment of time. The camera slowly zooms closer
towards his face to emphasise his emotions. Fades
to black.

3. Fade is used to transport the audience to this lake.
This is used as a location shot. The camera pans to
the right to show more of the scenery. This could
be from the males point of view.
Cut is used to show a female sitting alone on a
wall. This shows she is lonely and quite vulnerable.
The male approaches her and sits beside her.
A close up is used to show the females face who
shows beauty. A voiceover is being used to
describe her beauty further and his initials feelings
towards her.

4. A medium long shot is used to show the two people
sitting on the wall when the male mimes for a pen to
write a note to her as he is too nervous to talk to her.
A close up is used to show the note he has written.
Medium close ups of the two characters faces are used
to show their expressions during this situation. The
mise-en-scene is slightly brighter than the opening shot,
this is to show the more positive moods and minds.

5. A time lapse is added of the couple sitting on the wall talking
which is suggesting time passing as they get to know each
other. An extreme long shot is used to show the couple
walking away together which suggests to the audience they
are wanting to spend more time together.
A montage is added to show the couple texting and video-
calling. This is showing the relationship between them
growing.

6. Location shots are added to show a pebble beach.
The couple then walk into the shot holding hands
which tells the audience that they are becoming
closer and may be an official couple now.
More location shots are added this time showing
close ups of bunting in the shape of hearts that
connotes love. A medium shot is used to show the
couple hugging as the voice over is explaining how
he asked her to be his girlfriend.

7. A montage is created to show the couple
chilling together. This shows their closeness
and how comfortable they are with each other.
They are both happy. The voiceover is
describing how happy he is with his girlfriends.
For the audience, this is comforting as it is
‘unusual’ for the male in the relationship to talk
about his feelings and stating that she is ‘the
one’. The non-diegetic music is of a piano
playing at a high pitch creating the happy
atmosphere.
Fades to black as the music begins to become
lower in tone. Suggesting the mood is going to
become how solemn.

8. Arguments begin as a year passes. Both of them are
unhappy. The music also contributes to this as it has
become lower and more serious.
Short clips are added to show the effect of the break
up on both of them.
The mise-en-scenes are dull and bleak to suggest
sadness and loneliness.

9. Another montage is created to show when
the relationship was happy and healthy. A
close up of the two holding hands, from his
point of view, represents their bond.
A medium shot is used to show the girl
laughing and being happy with the male.
Showing her beauty and happiness.

10. A medium long shot shows the couple
happily together. It then dissolves to a
closer shot of their hands interlocking. This
is again showing their bond as a couple at
the beginning.
The colour is then drawn out of the frame
to create a black and white scene to show
it is in the past.

11. The end scene shows the same shots as the
beginning of the film but in reverse. Showing the
extreme close up of the males eyes, to a close up of
his face showing his solemn expression and the
long shot of him looking into the distance, lost
without the female.
The end credits show the characters in shattered
glass as this represents their broken relationship.