During the research and planning stage of our A2 media coursework we had to do research into similar products.

1. Two Cars, One Night
Analysis
By: Cameron Goody

2. Synopsis
• This short film is about a 9 year old boy and a 12 year old girl
bonding while their respective fathers are getting drunk in a bar in
rural New Zealand. The relationship between the children is
initially seen as a rivalry, but soon turns into a possible friendship.
The relationship is secured into a friendship when the girl gives
the boy a diamond ring at the end of the film.
• This short film is rather unique in the fact that it has no twist at
the end, which is a common feature in most short films.
• The film won 8 awards in 2004, when it was published, and was
nominated for another in 2005.

3. Mise en Scene
• The use of black and white in the film is used to emphasise the
year that the film is set in. Although the year the film was set is
not clear, it is assumed that the film was set in the 1960s. This is
evidenced by the types of cars that are seen in the film.
• The use of black and white is also used to emphasise the social
groups that the characters represent. This being young children
and bad parents. Although it was common for parents to leave
their children in cars while they go about their own business, it
was still frowned upon to leave them to go to the pub and get
drunk.

4. Sound
• The infrequent use of non diegetic sound represents the simplicity
of the short film and of the children’s relationship. The only use of
non diegetic sound is the music that plays during the end credits.
The only sounds heard during the film are diegetic sounds, such as
dialogue and the sounds from a car’s engine and of the car doors
being opened and closed. The music during the credits is very
different to the film because the music is quite obviously much
more recent compared to when the film is set. However it is very
suitable because of the theme and genre being very similar to the
atmosphere of the ending of the film.

5. Editing
• The editing choices such as the time-lapse are used to tell the
viewer that time is passing by. One significant use of this is
towards the end of the film, when the boy is depicted standing
outside the girl’s car before the time lapse and inside the car next
to the girl after the time lapse. This tells the viewer that the
characters have become closer during the time that passed.