Film Analysis

Analyse of 'Steel Homes' Eva Webber 2008.

Steel Holmes is a short documentary by Eva Webber, which touches on the emotion of death and the coping methods of some people at the loss of a loved one. The narrative is told through the owners of these storage units, as they tell the audience why they keep these possessions and memorabilia of loved ones, who in some cases have been dead for over 20 years. Overall I enjoyed this film as It really made me emotionally engage and empathise with the people in the documentary through it's personal, but sensitive insight into their lives. This is achieved effectively through the slow pace of the film, with many panning shots of the lockers with little or nothing happing, allowing the audience to really think about the narrative and the stories of these people.

The opening scene starts with a mid shot of the shutters of the building, slowly opening up in an eerie manor to reveal darkness inside. This shot connotes pain, as it promotes the idea that the audience is going to step into the darkness of these peoples lives. This shot was used to portray the idea that the people speaking to us are opening up and telling us their personal stories. The emotion is further clear as the dialogue of a male saying that they don't see the unit as a number they see it as a person. As this is just a voice over it portrays the sensitivity and privacy of the documentary. This effect of unconventionally not showing a mid shot of the person being interview with their name presented on screen, further highlights this motion.This also creates a sense of mystery and interested me more.

I believe the director's primary aim is for you to relate to these characters on a personal level, but also to promote a sadness. Not only in a sympathetic way, but also to make you question what is important, what memories would you have if someone you loved died, or what memories you have of someone that has died.

Even though this is not a conventional documentary and was quite emotional and almost depressing, I thought this film was a success through it's ability to provoke thought. I enjoyed this film as it made me think about the value of life and the importance of memories, but also the importance of mourning and overcoming the pain.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8bZEFuszDM