Model+essay

This first essay is a Gattaca essay for Level 3. A bit above what you should be producing but still a good guide for the ideas that you could be exploring.

Throughout the film water and the sea symbolises nature, and humanity’s desire to conquer this ever-changing element, and essentially nature. Niccol directly addresses this issue from the start of the film by quoting Willard Gaylin, who once stated, “I not only think that we will tamper with Mother Nature, but that Mother wants us to.” The arrogance of this statement, and in turn the arrogance of society in the way that we manipulate and destroy our environment, is portrayed through the young Anton. Proud, handsome and perfect, he is the complete epitome of how conceited the society of Gattaca has become, and the way our own is becoming today.

In terms of these themes and messages, Niccol then uses Anton and Vincent’s swimming races in the wild, expansive ocean, to portray how blinded we all have become in life by our own ambition and desire to manipulate science and the environment. The initial swimming race where Vincent is beaten by Anton serves as a plot device pre-empting the climax of the film where both brothers, play ‘chicken’ once again. In this first race Vincent loses, becoming tangled in the weed and being forced to give up. This signifies that his lack of confidence in himself, and that he has not yet fully realised that his true potential is not determined by his genes, but by his desire to succeed. He did not comprehend that he possessed everything he needed in sheer determination and strength to overcome the boundaries and limitations of his perfect society.

At the start of the second race, we notice a change in the way Vincent holds himself next to his Anton, and the way he no longer acknowledges him as a brother as he did when they were younger, but merely as another obstacle in life that he must overcome. Anton’s taunting of Vincent by saying ‘you know you’re going to lose,’ provides only more incentive for Vincent to keep going, and is almost ironic in the fact that against nature and God, society can never win. The aerial shots of Vincent and gold filter used during the scenes of the first race are not as prevalent in the second race, where we are instead presented with dominating splashes of red (blood/genes?) present in the flags, and green filter in the underwater shots. Intensifying aerial shots are again used in this second race and in the third, only this time they are of both boys, almost giving the impression of God looking down them. Through these shots Niccol portrays the idea that although both are different in terms of their engineering, they are still both “valid” human beings in their own right, for what measurements does humanity actually have in order to determine who constitutes a true human and what doesn’t.

Vincent beats Anton because, like the sea and water, Vincent is a product of nature - a man made from love. The recurring water leitmotif suggests Vincent thrives in the aspects of the world created by nature. His "natural” sense of humanity that Anton doesn't possess allows him to show the human spirit conquers any man made form. We can see that the ‘valids’ can strive for something along the lines of strive for perfection and no more. Anton is man-made, and so cannot overcome something so natural and wild. Vincent is completely natural, a “God-child,” and his beating the conditions symbolises that nature and God will always dominate.

 Below are a couple of Level Two essays. I know they are for a different film, but they should still help you to see what you need to be doing at Level 2 to get Excellence.

Analyse how techniques were used to create a strongly positive OR negative mood in one scene/section.

During the denouement scene – “Finding Peace”, in __Million Dollar Baby__, verbal and visual techniques such as cinematography, lighting, costume, music and sound were used to create a strongly negative mood. The director, Clint Eastwood, uses these techniques to help the viewer to connect with the characters more and relate to their feelings. This final scene also uses these various techniques to draw conclusions within the film.

Cinematography effects such as extreme close ups, long shots and foreground/background shots have been used in this final scene to add to the sombre mood. Extreme close ups of Frankie’s finger turning off Maggie’s respirator and him filling the syringe show the viewer the importance of what Frankie is doing and how hard it is for him. This was Frankie’s first steps towards granting Maggie’s wish, “remember what my Daddy did for Axel?”, and we are shown how much it is hurting Frankie to do this. The effect this is having on Frankie is shown through the long shot of him walking down the rehab corridor because we know his life is never going to be the same again.

Lighting portrays a similar picture for the viewer by showing how much Maggie means to Frankie and how close they had become. This scene begins with a long shot of the rehab centre where we see that only one room is lit while the rest are in darkness. This shows the viewer that Maggie is the last person Frankie has left that means anything to him. The windows that are not lit symbolize the people Frankie has already lost that he cared deeply about. As Frankie walks down the corridor there is a light on at the end which symbolizes walking towards the light and ending life. The viewer is able to sense from this that Frankie’s life will be deeply affected, “If you do this thing, you’ll be lost. Somewhere so deep you’ll never find yourself again.” As we see Frankie’s pain we are made to feel sympathetic towards him and his negative circumstances.

The costume and make-up used in this scene portray the characters’ emotions to the viewer and make the audience more aware of the heart-breaking mood of the scene. During this final scene Maggie is dressed in a hospital gown to emphasise the helplessness she feels because of her injuries. Frankie is dressed in dull, dark colours to symbolise how his life is going to be dark and lonely without Maggie, “Mo cuishle means my darling. My blood.” Scrap’s costume is also important to this scene as it describes his role in the film clearly; he is dressed in a blue/green t-shirt, grey hoodie and most importantly a hat. This hat portrays Scraps experience and wisdom which allows the viewer to trust his voice over of the characters. These final costume choices also give the viewer an insight to the new way of life the three characters will have.

Sound makes up a big part in conveying the negative, heart-breaking mood. This is done by making the viewer hear exactly how important Frankie’s actions are. After Frankie takes out Maggie’s breathing tube we hear her gurgle as she tries to breathe on her own. This makes the viewer aware of the seriousness of this scene and that Frankie is taking away Maggie’s life. Another sound that does this is the flat line drone that sounds once Maggie has stopped breathing; it shows that Frankie really has done what he felt he must, “by keeping her alive, I’m killing her”. The clarity of the sound also shows how clear this moment will stay in Frankie’s mind for the rest of his life.

For the main part of this scene violin music is playing in the background. This music creates the heart-breaking mood for Maggie’s death scene. The viewer is more easily able to relate to Frankie’s feeling of heart-ache because of this music. We see how much Maggie and Frankie needed each other, “I’ve only got you, Frankie.” “Well you’ve got me”, and how much this will impact on the rest of Frankie’s life. The music also brings the film to a conclusion through the guitar music played at the start also being played at the end. Repeating the music from the start meant the viewer understood more that Frankie was once again in life with no-one he can care for.

Cinematography, lighting, costume, sound and music portray the heart-breaking mood of this scene through their various techniques. The viewer is made to understand how the characters feel through these techniques. Without them Clint Eastwood would struggle to convey this mood so successfully.

-Ambrose Vickers

__Mrs. Tinning’s Comments:__ Beautifully written and insightful essay.

Mark: Excellence

** Discuss an idea in your studied text that caused strong reaction or interest in you as a reader/audience ** In Clint Eastwood’s film __Million Dollar Baby__ the idea of euthanasia is touched upon. This naturally raises a great many questions surrounding the morality and ethics of Frankie’s eventual decision to euthanize Maggie. As an audience you are torn between religious beliefs and the desperation of the circumstance. The situation brings you to question what you actually feel is right. Even if you have a set idea on your principles, the presentation of the situation makes you doubt yourself.

Maggie’s accident is a massive tragedy, and Frankie is thrown into major denial about her condition. His questioning of the reality of her paralysis inspires a hope in the viewer that there may be a relief from the circumstance, instead of the concrete reality she actually faces. Frankie’s denial is detrimental to the situation they both face, and probably plays a major role in his initial surprise, and refusal, when Maggie approaches the subject of euthanasia “Frankie… You remember what daddy did for axel?” As an audience we are not hugely shocked by Maggie’s request, however, we are not expecting anything to come from it. We are more surprised that Frankie was not expecting it. As the movie approaches these final scenes we are brought to sympathise with the characters, and offered their points of view.

We are brought to greatly commiserate Maggie’s situation and decision. Through knowledge gained of her life we understand that “she grew up knowing one thing, that she was dirt.” Her upbringing was hard, and she was misunderstood by her family. Her history made it hard for her to function in more modern society. She grew up as a hillbilly, and is therefore at odds with society. She came to Los Angeles to escape her past, and found instead a new chance at life through boxing. Maggie made it to the championship fight and then loses by default after breaking her neck in the fight. Maggie pleads her case with Frankie “I had people chanting my name… Don’t let me lie here till I can’t hear them chanting no more.” Here we get a small insight into how greatly she was devastated by the accident. Coupled with this though, we see Maggie’s understanding of her purpose fulfilled. Her aim when she entered boxing was to have a shot at the title fight, and she achieved this – regardless of the result of the match. Understanding Maggie’s stance on her situation generates the interest needed to shape our reaction to the idea of euthanasia – not as a whole, but in this context.

Frankie’s initial reaction is understandable and relatable for the audience. The position Maggie puts him in is one none of us would like to find ourselves in. As we watch his love for Maggie grow throughout the movie, we are able to sympathise with how massive a burden her request then places on him “Please. Don’t ask me to do that.” With Maggie’s reply “I’m asking” we realize that Frankie is the only person who she can ask. We find that because of this he is bound by her faith in him, and his love for her, to acquiesce. There is a major internal battle happening in Frankie from the moment she asks him. He is torn between his Christian faith and his want to keep her alive, and what he feels is right. His circumstance and the arising choice he must make inspires great interest within us as an audience, mainly because we are nearly as torn as Frankie as to what is the most ethical action to take.

Frankie is in the most awkward and difficult situation. He does then the only thing that he has ever known to do. He turns to his failing Catholic faith. He approaches the priest asking for advice, and is naturally discouraged. The priest warns him strongly “If you do this thing, you’ll be lost somewhere. So deep, you’ll never be able to find yourself again.” Maggie’s situation poses one of the greatest moral dilemmas. Even through visiting his religious views in an attempt to find the right answer he is left just as torn. Being told by the priest to “leave it in God’s hands” does nothing to help Frankie and he remains adamant that “She’s not asking God, she’s asking for my help.” Frankie does, however, eventually realise that Maggie has been his second chance at family and helping another person. What we glean from Frankie’s relationship with his daughter is that it ended badly, whether through some action of his (or lack thereof). He understands that even though he may be lost for the rest of his life, it is a sacrifice worth making to help Maggie. As an audience, we are able to understand Frankie’s choice – whether we agree with it or not. We know that it was definitely not a decision taken lightly, but weighed heavy on Frankie. When Frankie actually goes and euthanizes Maggie, we are given a sense of relief from her bondage and pain. This relief shows us that the idea connected with the audience and gained a strong reaction and interest from us.

The idea of euthanasia comes into the film Million Dollar Baby quite surprisingly. We are not expecting Maggie’s accident, and then actually half expect a miracle recovery. She makes the decision that her life is not worth living, but being tetraplegic she is unable to kill herself. She then asks the only person she can to help her with this. Her request stirs the morality in all of us, and we are torn between the ethics of the situation. From the arising of the idea to the actual event we are held with great tension within us. The idea of euthanasia gains the interest and response it does from the audience because of its controversy. This film uses the idea of euthanasia to make us question our beliefs surrounding the ethics of such a situation.
 * Fredi Jones**
 * __Mrs Tinning's notes:__** Some very insightful points made here. Bring in film techniques to solidify your grade.


 * __Mark:__ Excellenc**