The Lifeguard Film Analysis

The Lifeguard, a low budget drama from writer and director Liz W Garcia, premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2013 where it competed for Best Dramatic Film and had limited release. Garcia was “inspired” by Andrea Arnold’s film ‘Fish Tank’ “where the performances are so naturalistic…she’s able to be gritty and lyrical” (Garcia, 2013). ‘Cinema screen is interested in representation’ (McClements, 2016), and the drama genre adheres to this idea as Jule Selbo (a professor in the Radio Television and Film), says is a ‘very real world and emotional development of realistic characters’ (Selbo, 2014). This is evident in drama, as the use of stark reality and relatable situations allow audiences, through screen, to be captured by familiar emotions.
Selbo states, ‘the most important element of the drama genre is the use of the everyman/everywoman protagonist’ (Selbo, 2014). Dramas often have leading protagonists that exudes reliability; how they look, speak, where they are and what they do. These motifs continue with locations and setting; bars, houses, streets, and imagery we see in everyday life. Close up shots (in particular of the lead protagonist) are common, as Christopher J Bowen an instructor of cinematography at Boston University said “The close up of anyone’s face is a very intimate shot. It carries with it a great deal of visual information…” (Bowen, 2013). Drama uses medium shots to show confrontation so the audience can see and feel all that is happening, while still feeling as though they are there in the