BSR Opening sequence analysis Mean Streets
Sound - Music Throughout the entire ten minute opening we do not hear a single glimpse of music being played in the background. Although this connotes a lack of emotional responses towards the text which would not really link to a BSR opening, we can also see that this may be done purposely in the respect that the director was aiming to give no glamour to the BSR genre film. Because there is no music we recognise the lack of emotions that the boys feel in the institute. We must rely purely on what we see and hear in the diegesis of the text to find our emotional status as oppose to being manipulated by background music which is typical of a BSR film. This may connote a theme of harsh living conditions as the lack of music exposes both a lack of positive and negative emotions – without that contrast it is hard to have a positive outlook on the situations we see in any respect.
Sound - Dialogue “Name and number” x4 in one minute of the text (01:41). The top officer in the entire building repeats this request for ‘Carlings’ name and number four times, is he stupid? No. This connotes a straight up demand for respect. A theme that we commonly see in BSR films linked to the theme of coming-of-age. The officer has heard his name and number and most probably has it written down in front of him, however by repeating the question after the boy has taken a beating by the officers assistant, we can recognise the change in the tone of the boys response. The demoralising attacks on the boy represent the severe abuse that these young people suffered in this type of institute in the 80’s era of young offenders. This type of gritty approach to connoting these ideas is typical of a BSR film as we can’t bear to watch the grief they are put through, even though they are young criminals who need to be punished but at the same time can’t stop watching.
Camera Language This two shot/mid shot shows us two males in a vehicle who look as though they are chasing the boy ahead of them. The boy is small to connote his lack of power over the men who are both dressed in suits, suggesting that they could be part of an institution. The fact that they are in a car also connotes the power difference between the different aged characters. This suggests a harsh style of filming and also connotes the idea of a power struggle to the audience, typical of a BSR film. The background area of the location is just fields, suggesting the film is set somewhere out side of any urban or suburban locations which would be significantly cheaper for the institution who produced the film which is a conventional action for an Independent labelled production team to take. The two-shot almost seems distorted as it shows us the two men’s backs and nothing more. This could connote that they are the ones in the film with their backs to society otherwise known as the antagonists. The fact that this idea has been set up so early on in the film again promotes the idea that there is going to be a real rivalry set up between good and bad in the film which is typical of a BSR film as they commonly emphasizes the struggle between power in society.
Camera Language This mid shot creates an artistic effect through seeing the length of the corridor which is typical of a BSR film. It connotes the idea that the younger boys are trapped in an institution that is hard to escape. The lighting used in the frame produces a dark and dim effect to the institution and connotes a gritty form of style to the audience who now know they should expect to see some sights that are not so pretty conveying the true feel of this kind of British Institutional environment in the 80’s. The mid shot is set up in order to emphasize the youths being blocked of both sides by the power enthused adults who both stand with their hands behind their backs – a dominant position giving the body language that they have found some new ‘meat’ to bully within the institution.
Camera Language This high angle two shot automatically shows us the lack of power between the black male who is lowest down in the frame and the two older and bigger white males. The audience is made to feel sorry for the black male is being subjected to racial abuse – something which was a common controversial issue in this era and still continues on today. At the centre of the frame is the young boys face with the expressions of shock, fear and confusion on his face. This helps the audience to recognise the fact that this issue was completely out of hand and as a genre of BSR, the director has done everything realistically possible to connote this. Another element emphasizing the racial issue is how the two older boys are practically silhouettes in the shot. This creates irony as we recognise that the characters who looks black are actually abusing someone for being black. This could be to suggest that the views that these boys have on black people are in actual fact the views others have on them for being racist.
Mise-en-scene In this long shot we get a clear view of what the kids of this prison would be forced to call ‘home.’ The bland tone of colours such as cream, brown and black all consist of a dirty element giving us the impression this place is unclean and has a lack of effort purposely put in to show us the standard of living the boys have. This connotes that they might have a ruff time and do not get entertained often. From this connotation we can gather that the environment is suited towards some sort of prison for youths which gives the impression that in Britain we must go to large efforts in order keep our youth in line with society. This may give us the idea that things need to be reworked such as our education systems or even the parenting of children. The themes connoted through this frame could be respect and authority, low quality living conditions and un-comfy sleeping due to the beds looking more like thin planks of wood with sheets than actual beds!
Mise-en-scene The Mise-en-scene in this frame shows office utensils such as paper, pens, tables and a phone. This connotes the office of the building. The theme of authority is connoted through the use of suits on the men which are both similarly dark coloured to connote a dark atmosphere in the institute that the director has tried to connote. Although the office still has a lot more in terms of equipment and colours comparing the young boys rooms, the office is still pretty bland and only has the bare basics. From this we can recognise that even the adults in this environment were not treated amazingly by those above them, which shows us a theme of hierarchy in society in this era.
Mise-en-scene In this frame the brutality of the institution is portrayed through a lack of clothes on the boy who must have a bath naked in front of the authorities who will only shout verbal abuse and give physical abuse to them after the bath. The fact that the boys are made to bath with no clothes on in front of everyone around them simply degrades them to have the status of an animal as oppose to a human being. The bath is placed in the centre of a completely empty room with no towels, shower gel or even any clothes to put on after. This is typical of the BSR genre as it not only means the budget will be reduced through not needing as many props but it also connotes the lack of respect given to the inmates who so badly want to escape the suffering conditions they are living in.