textual analysis of bullet boy

1. Textual Analysis
Bullet Boy

2. Sound
• The only music heard within the opening sequence is soft piano , which creates an emotional atmosphere for
when he gets out of prison. It also could connote the ‘free’ felling he is now experiencing as he recently got
released from prison , piano music can often be described as light an airy this could connote that the man
thinks he is trouble free and has no worries now that he is out of prison.
• This music is quietened or stopped completely when there is dialogue. This helps to emphasise the importance
of what the characters are saying, but also could suggest that the character is trying to stop himself from
becoming emotional. The melodic score gives the opening sequence an emotional tone but when it stops it
connotes that the main character Is trying to distance himself from these emotions and trying to retain his
‘strong’ reputation.
• When the characters are in the countryside there are diegetic sounds of cars , birds and cows , this shows that
they are in the middle of nowhere that it is a real life situation. This diegetic sound presents an binary
opposition within the opening sequence. The sound of ambient sounds of the countryside present the natural
element to the environment that he is now in , this is in contrast to the desolate prison that he has just been
released from.
Mise-en-scene
Clothing: we see the main character wearing a tracksuit , this represents the area he comes
from. Tracksuits are an iconography of the working class. So this is effective in telling the
audience something about his character and background. Before we even hear any
dialogue. This is following a convention that social realisms involve characters that are in
the working class.

3. Main Character
• When in the car there is a close up on his face which allows the audience to witness his
emotions after being released form prison. This is the first sense of real emotion that the audience get to see from the
main character as he has been portrayed as a ‘tough’ guy so far. This close up begins to reveal to the audience that this
strong face might just be just an act. Further more the character is looking out into the city whilst inside a car , this could
connote that he feels trapped by his record and is constantly look down upon by the society around him.
• The First look we get of the main character is when he is being released from prison ,
this gives the audience an idea of his background/ character as the prison
iconography connotes that he has an under-privileged background and it also shows
the representation of a stereotypical aggressive male. This could also be seen to be
portraying typical path of a working class males life.
• The character also acts as though he doesn’t need anyone to help him , this is evident in
the long shot where he is standing alone and away from his friend and brother. This
attitude seen within the character is conventional of a social realism film as the ,as
characters within them are often strong and very independent. This belief that he
doesn’t need any one is further emphasised by the dialogue ‘ what are you doing here?’
when he reaches his friend.

4. Other Characters The little Brother:
He is shown to look up to his brother , as he is desperate to
see him , which is represented by him hiding in the boot.
When the two are talking on the bonnet of the car , he
imitates his older brother by using a piece of straw to act like
a cigarette , this image connotes that the little brother will
perhaps follower his older sibling in conforming to the
stereotypical life of a working class male.
The Friend:
He greets the main character normally as they don’t want to ruin their
reputation as being ‘tough’ by letting their emotions show , this
shows the stereotypical view of working class males.
We are shown this reputation of them through the way that they
communicate with colloquial language and the fact that the main
character is being released from prison. Statistically more black males
go to prison (reality) which has caused the public to starts scrutinizing
the police on grounds of racism (context). What the producer is
trying to do within this film is humanize the black male and make the
audience empathize with him. ( opinion of the producer)

5. Shot Types and Editing
• Quick sharp cuts are used when the friend hears someone in the
boot , this connotes the desperation and excitement the younger
brother feels when going to meet his older sibling. Basic cuts
keep the audience focused on the story and make it more
realistic and suggest that picking up a friend from prison is an
everyday occurrence. The editing also creates an intellectual
pleasure for the audience as they are trying to work out who is
in the boot.
• In the first car scene you only the side of the friend's head as it is an
over the shoulder shot , this creates a enigma surrounding the
character who is driving. Further more the over the shoulder
shot connote his commitment and focus upon picking up his
friend from prison.
• Why and how long was the main character in
prison?
• Who is the girl he was asking questions about?
Girlfriend?
• Did his friend and/or brother visit him whilst in
prison?
• What's the relationship like between himself and
his brother/rest of his family? ( why weren’t the
rest of his family there to pick him up?)
Questions Raised
Conventions of Social Realism Found Within Bullet Boy
• The lighting is kept natural which makes it more realistic for the audience.
• This also occurs with the camera shots , these are kept simple so its more realistic for the audience.
• The film is set in a council estate within a run down city. The audience associate this with the family not having
much money , and where violence crime an drugs usually occur. Also follows the convention of social realism
films being about the working class.
• The iconography of the prison is shown in the second shot and therefore shows that the film will be dealing with
crime , this is one of the main themes found within social realisms.

6. Shot Types and Editing
• Quick sharp cuts are used when the friend hears someone in the
boot , this connotes the desperation and excitement the younger
brother feels when going to meet his older sibling. Basic cuts
keep the audience focused on the story and make it more
realistic and suggest that picking up a friend from prison is an
everyday occurrence. The editing also creates an intellectual
pleasure for the audience as they are trying to work out who is
in the boot.
• In the first car scene you only the side of the friend's head as it is an
over the shoulder shot , this creates a enigma surrounding the
character who is driving. Further more the over the shoulder
shot connote his commitment and focus upon picking up his
friend from prison.
• Why and how long was the main character in
prison?
• Who is the girl he was asking questions about?
Girlfriend?
• Did his friend and/or brother visit him whilst in
prison?
• What's the relationship like between himself and
his brother/rest of his family? ( why weren’t the
rest of his family there to pick him up?)
Questions Raised
Conventions of Social Realism Found Within Bullet Boy
• The lighting is kept natural which makes it more realistic for the audience.
• This also occurs with the camera shots , these are kept simple so its more realistic for the audience.
• The film is set in a council estate within a run down city. The audience associate this with the family not having
much money , and where violence crime an drugs usually occur. Also follows the convention of social realism
films being about the working class.
• The iconography of the prison is shown in the second shot and therefore shows that the film will be dealing with
crime , this is one of the main themes found within social realisms.