Look both ways

Question 1 What is the significance of the objects in slides 3-7? How do they establish and support the film’s major themes?

Question 2 Slides 9-16 List the animations that depict Meryl’s anxieties? Why does Watts use this technique?

Question 3 How does Watts use mis en scene to portray Nick’s feelings upon being given his diagnosis?

03.32 ‘So, what are my chances?’

Question 4 Slides 23-45 Why do you think Watt frequently uses the motif of the birds? What might they symbolise? Why is a single bird shown after Nick is seen striking out at the cricket match?

Second appearance 08.50 early evening (after train accident)

Second appearance 08.52 early evening (after train accident)

Immediately after second appearance 09.00 early evening (after train accident)

Third appearance 14.27 early Friday evening ‘... and I don’t own a yacht. Any my sister ate all the smoked salmon sandwiches at the funeral’.

Third appearance 14.39 early Friday evening

Immediately after second appearance 14.55 early evening

Immediately after 4th 18.35 early Saturday morning

Seventh appearance 40.12 (voice heard) ‘Just block everything’.

Question 6 What is the meaning of the motif of cricket?

Cricket – 04.31 ‘I’ve got cancer’.

39.36 ‘Did you see the photo? Front page? It’s good to get some good news. To finish up. The job. For now. I mean, I think apparently it’s good to stay up, you know optimistic’.

40.12 (voice heard) ‘Just block everything’.

Question 8 Slides 50-59 What cinematic techniques does Watt use to portray Andy’s concerns? How does Andy’s speech reflect his character? Describe his character.

05.59 ‘Do you know how many supposedly accidental deaths last year could have been suicide? Over 100 in this state.’

11.16 Andy - ‘Are you sure?’

6.09 ‘ Do you know how many of those were men? How do how many were doing ‘Arts Diary’’?

07.32 ‘Did you actually see him trip?’

11.59 Andy - ‘Did you do this on purpose?’

20.15 ‘ Why you’d have to put that photo on the front page? It wasn’t about her’.

21.08 ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m not going to go jumping in front of a train anytime soon’.

34.27 ‘Nice photo today buddy. Front page. But then I guess that all you jet setting, fancy free bastards need that kind of constant reassurance ’.

Question 9 How does the mis en scene of Andy’s apartment add to your understanding of the character?

Question 10 Slides 64-67 How does Watts use editing to show Anna and Andy’s relationship?

12.20 Anna - ‘I just thought you should know’.

12.23 ‘Great. So now I know’.

Question 11 Why does Watts show Andy tripping over the tram? What does the viewer learn about him in this scene?

Question 12 What is Watt trying to show by frequently posing Anna and Andy in this manner?

Question 13 How does the following setting ironically echo Meryl’s character?

09.03 ‘Are you following me’?

Question 14 Despite her fears of disaster how does Meryl cope with adversity?

09.31 Meryl – ‘My dad died...It’s the natural order of things isn’t it? I mean there’s always somebody worse off...’

09.52 ‘Maybe it was meant to be. He might have been a rapist or an axe murderer about to commit his first crime’.

27.37 ‘Everyone has to has their fifteen minutes of blah’.

Question 15 Describe Meryl’s concerns? How do her poor communication skills hinder her ability to enjoy life?

14.27 ‘ I’m sick of this stupid job. I don’t have any money. I don’t have any children and I don’t have partner to share anything with’.

47.31 Nick – ‘Are you an artist?’ Meryl – ‘Sort of.’ Nick – ‘It’s hot isn’t it’ Meryl – ‘Yes’.

Question 16 What is the meaning of the motif of water for Meryl? Why are there such contradictory images of water in Meryl’s imagination?

Question 16 How else does Watts use the motif of water in Look Both Ways?

1.31.04 ‘I am the train driver’.

Question 17 What does the motif of the railway tracks imply?

41.13 Meryl – Saturday afternoon

Question 18 How does Watts use various cinematic techniques to convey the train driver’s grief?

Question 18 What helps the train driver heal?

Question 20 How does Watts use the framing of her shots to convey meaning and emotion?

Question 21 What is the meaning of the shark motif?

Question 22 How does Phil relate to others at the film’s onset? How does Phil change over the course of the film?

19.51 ‘Dad, it’s tomorrow’.

44.18 ‘Are you having an affair?’

Question 23 Slides 127-138 What cinematic techniques does Watt use to depict Nick’s anxieties?

Question 24 Slides 139-142 What is Watts suggesting about modern life through the inclusion of various media articles and headlines?

Question 25 How is Nick confronted with images of death on Saturday morning? What is the significance of the ill child?

Question 26 What is the significance of the cricket game and Nick’s refusal to ‘block’? Why does the camera cut to several shots of the wedding during this scene? After this scene Watts uses a single bird for the only time in the film. Why do you think she chose this image?

40.31 Scene cuts to an image of a wedding

Question 27 How does Nick’s illness change his perspective on life?

1.00.16 ‘What are you doing? Jesus, there’s people...’

Question 28 How does the mis en scene of Nick’s flat portray his character and emotions? Discuss this in terms of colour and lighting. Are there any other features of the mis en scene which you think are significant?

Question 29 What is the significance of the rain in the final scene?

Question 30 What does the last photomontage communicate about the lives of the protagonists? As the film closes after the final photomontage, there is the sound of wings. Why has Watt used this sound?

Look both ways

More Related Content

More from Kathleen Paris

Recently uploaded

Look both ways