Scene Analysis: Benny’s Farewell

Question 1

Cinematography:
1. handheld shaky camera
2. medium shot of Lil Ze
3. camera spinning upside down
4. continual blur of flashing lights
5. dark lighting
6. high angle of Angelica
7. strobe lighting
8. shots of dancing crowd from dancers eye line contrasting with high angle shot of Rocket’s POV

Answer 1

1. documentary feel
2. shows how he feels out of depth in the setting
3. shows drunken disorientation
4. disorientating
5. generates tension, parallels dark nature of the citizens, symbolises death taking over
6. shows devastation and her fear of Lil Ze
7. builds up to Benny being shot: connotes disorientation, the last strobe is a metaphor for Benny’s last moments. the light goes out after they die
8. Rocket is not participating, he’s an observer

Question 2

Sound:
1. Club music
2. ‘So Very Hard to Go’ - Tower of Power
3. ‘King Fu Fighting’ - Karl Douglas
4. ‘Hold Back the Water’ - Bach Man - Turner Overdrive

Answer 2

1. represents youth and easygoing
2. slow song, makes the scene intimate
3. contrasts Lil Ze’s anger. contrapuntal sound. a song about controlled power: ironic counterpoint to the real violence that erupts
4. contrapuntal sound

Question 3

Mise-en-scene:
1. Lil Ze wearing black
2. different subcultures coming together
3. tropical shirts
4. strobe lights

Answer 3

1. symbolises he is antisocial
2. unity: Lil Ze cant integrate with everyone else
3. shows easygoing community
4. shows fear and confusion

Question 4

Editing:
1. slow motion flashback to Benny and Lil Ze as children
2. cross cut between Knockout Ned, his wife, and Lil Ze
3. time lapse of flashing and strobe
4. long continuous shot of Lil Ze after getting rejected
5. flashing lights fading to black when Benny dies
6. stop motion effect

Answer 4

1. shows their forgotten bond: warm colours to symbolise youth. sepia filter shows recollection of a lost, innocent time
2. builds tension
3. shows disorientation of the scene
4. shows his fading heartbeat
5. disorienting

Question 5

Performance:
1. Lil Ze trying to intimidate Benny
2. Benny thanking everyone for coming
3. Lil Ze humiliating Knockout Ned
4. Lil Ze hysterical over Benny’s death
5. Rocket is DJing
6. Lil Ze screaming and blaming Angelica

Answer 5

1. he disapproves of Benny’s decisions
2. very considerate. the only character who can bring the whole community together
3. gets a thrill out of dehumanising people. doesn’t like not getting his way
4. he has lost his best friend
5. reinforces how he’s an observer, watching over everyone
6. naive and misogynist: calls her a bitch