The 2005 Live action short film Oscar winner, Wasp (Andrea Arnold) is a gripping film about a negligent, single mother trying to go on her first date in years. I saw this short about a year and a half ago and having seen it again today, I can honestly say that I’m still in awe of how terrible of a parent Zoe- the mother- is.
This time, however, the style of the film really caught my eye. The first time around, I was so caught up in the story, I didn’t see the unique and thoughtful style this film possesses.
Swift, shaky camera movements skillfully chronicle the chaos and disorganization within this flawed clan. Seeing the world through the eyes of the children, running around, trying to find some form of entertainment heightens the drama and makes the viewer truly feel the possible danger that these children are exposed to. It gives the film a raw, gritty feel that, although unsettling, makes the film that much better.
Sound also plays a huge role in this film. The drowning out of the girls’ voices as they walk over the overpass as rush hour traffic roars below them, puts the family’s situation in perspective. It is clear from the start of the film that Zoe is not a responsible parent, but to literally see them, zoomed out, highway symphony blasting below, hints at how small they really are. In this vast urban landscape, their problems are just one of a million others.
Arnold is able to put the focus back on the family and presents Zoe with an opportunity to somewhat redeem herself when her youngest child, Kyle, is in danger.
Everyone’s moral compass may be slightly off kilter in this film (save for Zoe’s oldest daughter, whose street survival skills are scarily advanced for a child of her age) but it is the ending which really ties the drama in neatly and speaks to the bit of common sense and humanity in the characters.
