Look Both Ways Analysis
“The fragmented structure of ‘Look Both Ways’ makes identification with the characters difficult. Do you agree?”
The independent Australian film, “Look Both Ways”, is unlike most “Hollywood” films. Applying narrative techniques of the old film noir genre, this film is both unconventional and structurally unusual. The protagonists, Meryl, Nick, and Andy, are all complex personalities, making it difficult for the audience to relate. Director, Sarah Watt, employs many visual forms to assist the audience in this identification with her characters, resulting in an extremely fragmented structure.
For the audience, breaking into the inner psyche of the female protagonist, Meryl, is not difficult at all. Presented with her most private thoughts, audiences are able to understand and empathise with her, and perhaps even find a mutual view between themselves and the character on screen. Utilising her art form of painting into animation, Watt provides an extremely personal viewing …show more content…
With the use of flashbacks of Nick’s father, Joe, the audience is provided with that particular period of his family life instead of only information about his present self. They are also made aware of his insecurity about the effect of death on all those around him, and his torment caused by the fact that he still cannot accept Joe’s death.
Watt not only uses flashbacks to reveal Nick’s character, she also uses series of still images and photomontages for the audience’s understanding. While the series of still images are comparable to Meryl’s animations, exposing the thought process the characters are going through in that point in time, the final photomontage tells of the future Nick and Meryl have together, without uncovering the end of Nick’s story. All three of these structural methods help the audience connect with the character, evoking more observation of identity than most “Hollywood”
The independent Australian film, “Look Both Ways”, is unlike most “Hollywood” films. Applying narrative techniques of the old film noir genre, this film is both unconventional and structurally unusual. The protagonists, Meryl, Nick, and Andy, are all complex personalities, making it difficult for the audience to relate. Director, Sarah Watt, employs many visual forms to assist the audience in this identification with her characters, resulting in an extremely fragmented structure.
For the audience, breaking into the inner psyche of the female protagonist, Meryl, is not difficult at all. Presented with her most private thoughts, audiences are able to understand and empathise with her, and perhaps even find a mutual view between themselves and the character on screen. Utilising her art form of painting into animation, Watt provides an extremely personal viewing …show more content…
With the use of flashbacks of Nick’s father, Joe, the audience is provided with that particular period of his family life instead of only information about his present self. They are also made aware of his insecurity about the effect of death on all those around him, and his torment caused by the fact that he still cannot accept Joe’s death.
Watt not only uses flashbacks to reveal Nick’s character, she also uses series of still images and photomontages for the audience’s understanding. While the series of still images are comparable to Meryl’s animations, exposing the thought process the characters are going through in that point in time, the final photomontage tells of the future Nick and Meryl have together, without uncovering the end of Nick’s story. All three of these structural methods help the audience connect with the character, evoking more observation of identity than most “Hollywood”