Get off My land Review

Get off my land is a short black comedy written and directed by Douglas Ray about a young couple’s walk in the countryside that leads to a confrontation with the land owner.

At the very start a close up camera view is shown of some legs and feet walking along a muddy path. One person wears boots and the other white trainers. This is a good way for the viewer to make a first impression on these characters. From this they can tell what sort of lifestyle these people are used to.

Throughout the film natural light was used which helped the viewer to focus more on the characters and story. When the couple are talking to the farmer and the camera is facing the couple more sun light can be seen behind and on them whereas when the camera gives a close up of the farmer there is not much light and in the background there are many dark trees which may portray that the farmer perhaps has a darker more dangerous side. When any character is shown close up during the confrontation the background is blurred so the viewer will focus more on the tense atmosphere between the characters rather than the environment.

The camera work also made the conversation between the three people more realistic because close up’s were used for the majority of the time which really put the viewer in the position of the character as if they were having the conversation themselves, what made it more realistic however was that the camera moves up and down when the close up’s are used which makes it even more effective because it almost makes it seem like you are viewing it literally from the other persons eyes and they are fidgeting as they listen.

However the camera shots do not vary very much away from close up’s. The close up’s are used mainly to capture the characters facial expressions during different points in the confrontation to show how they are feeling or so you can understand their reactions. But only two other camera shots can really be noticed throughout. Long shots are used usually to show the location such as when the couple are first walking through the peaceful country and medium shots are also used but these are used in the same way as the close up’s.

The film had a simple linear narrative, more elements of the story were revealed as the film went on, however one element of the film was continuously repeated and that was the element of which the conflict was about; trespassing. By reminding the viewer what the conflict is about we are able to understand the seriousness of the situation and the strain between the characters.

Not many sounds were used in the background which added to the films simplicity. Dialogue was more dominant throughout the film and the tone of the characters voices showed how they were feeling very clearly but nearer the end birds are seen flying away from the trees to show a sense of fear from the event that has just happened. This camera view was interesting because if showed the reaction to the event from another point of view in this case animals.