The document provides a detailed analysis of 8 screenshots from a film adaptation of the poem "First Ice". The first screenshot shows the main character Rio sitting alone on a bench, facing away from flowers and an escape gate, representing her isolation and internal conflict over whether to embrace society or nature. The second screenshot focuses on Rio's phone conversation, showing her blank expression and blue fingernails representing sadness over a choice between her relationship or freedom. The third and fourth screenshots show Rio's hands holding the phone tightly, with her large ring in light and small ring in shadow, representing her choice of independence over her relationship. The final screenshots show Rio walking confidently into an unknown shadowed future,

1. First Ice Analysis – Ciaran Pinnell
When we looked at the many screenshots from our video of our interpretation of the
poem ‘First Ice’ we drew out the connotations and denotations by looking at the
codes, signs and conventions. From this, we found many types of representations
within the film.
In the first screenshot of our film, Rio is sitting down on a bench positioned in front
of greenery. Rio is positioned on the edge of the picture while the greenery is in the
centre of the shot. This signifies that she is secluded and isolated from the rest of the
world, as she is facing away from the flowers. She is isolated from the rest of the
world as she is concentrating on her phone call, the only thing that matters to her in
that space of time. She is also facing away from the gate – the gate is offering a way
out but she is ignoring it – she wants to be secluded and therefore ignore an escape.
The background surroundings also show conflict between the natural environment
and industrial surroundings – this represents the internal conflict in Rio’s character
and how Rio is internally deciding whether to stay secluded in nature or embrace the
industrial side of things, and stay as part of the society. The brick wall mirrors Rio’s
relationship – it represents enclosure. The regular pattern of brickwork and solidness
represents her situation – she is enclosed and feels trapped by the relationship. There
are also flowers amongst the bushes. The flowers are red and are scattered around the
greenery. The red flowers represent love, passion and romance. However, Rio is
facing away from them – she rejects the idea of love, hinting that the phone call is
with her boyfriend or significant lover giving her bad news or rejecting her.
In the second screenshot of our film, there is a close-up on Rio. The shot, however,
focuses on the phone Rio is holding, while her face is more in the background – the
focus is on the phone as Rio is concentrating on what is being said in the phone
conversation – this is the main point in the story. Rio’s expression is blank and
surprised and disconnected – this signifies Rio’s reaction to what is being said on the
phone. Rio also has blue nail varnish. Blue represents the sadness in Rio after hearing
what is being said on the phone. Blue also links to nature and freedom – therefore
there is internal conflict in Rio – she has to choose between choosing to stay with the
person on the other end or complete freedom. Rio’s ring on her finger is also quite big
and ornate – hinting that she may have bought it herself – this signifies independence
and also hints that she is able to break out of her relationship and become free and
independent. In the background it shows plants pushed to the far back – Rio is
concentrating on that specific moment in time and pushing everything else to the back
of her head – Rio’s decision and the phone call is the only thing important to her in
that moment of time.
The third and fourth screenshots represent the camera tilting from Rio’s hand to her
face, showing the realization in Rio. In the third screenshot, it shows her hand holding
the phone tightly. Rio is above the phone – this represents that she deserves better
than the person on the phone – who has perhaps treated her badly. There are two rings
on opposite hands – on the hand holding the phone is her large costume ring, while on
the opposite hand is a small and delicate ring – possibly bought by her boyfriend. The
two rings conflict with each other, one representing independence and freedom and
the other romance and enclosure with her boyfriend. However, the small ring is in the
shadow, while the large ring is in the light – this represents that independence and

2. freedom is the clearer way out. The position of Rio’s hands also signifies that her
hands are enclosed – showing that she is introverted and trying to block out the rest of
the world, showing isolation. Isolation is also a dominant theme in the fourth slide – it
focuses on Rio’s face, and the background is completely blurred out. This signifies
isolation and a disconnection from the rest of the world. The focus on Rio also
signifies that this is the pivotal moment in Rio’s decision – the conflict has gone to
the back of her mind and she is concentrating on the decision she has to make. Her
hair is also shown to be quite messy and not in order – this signifies that her life isn’t
in order and she needs to get it in the right track again.
The fifth slide then shows Rio sitting on the bench in the corner of the shot while it
shows the buildings in front of her. The buildings represent the industrial side of Rio’s
life – it appears as if the only path ahead is the enclosed, trapped feel of the industrial
side of life. Rio is still the only person in shot, representing the seclusion and
loneliness that Rio feels. In the sixth slide, Rio then stands up, and walks towards the
shadowed area. The shadow represents the future – the future is unknown and not
clear at all. However, Rio is making her way towards it, signifying that she is ready to
face the future.
The seventh slide then shows Rio stepping into the shadowed area. She is walking
confidently, representing that she is prepared to face the future with confidence.
However, she is dragging her bag, representing that she still has a weight under her,
and still has ‘baggage’. In the background there is a gate, which Rio is walking away
from. The gate represents another way out in life, however, the fact that Rio is
walking away from it signifies that she has decided not to take that path. The final
eighth slide shows Rio gone from the shot, just showing the bench and the
background behind it she left behind. This represents the life she left behind, and the
fact that she has moved on into a new stage in life.