My Neighbor, My Killer (Trailer Analysis)

Right at the beginning, before the trailer begins a defintion is produced onscreen for viewers to read. It allows the audience to read the contents of the film if not already aware.

Firstly, my attention was drawn to the quality of the trailer. By watching the  trailer, it is clear to depict that the film had a low budget meaning they had restrictions on the way in which they filmed similarly meaning the budget for the entire production was extremely strict. Unlike other Hollywood blockbuster films that usually receive the backing through the likes of  “Warner Brothers”  etc , it is unlikely that distribution companies of that sort would support a film of this nature. Therefore, it would be the duty of “Independent Distribution Companies” to assist in the distributing of a film.

We see the “Festival De Cannes” – which is a french film festival that has been established since 1946 making it quite old and due to its position, extremely prestigious. The fact that this film was shown at a festival of this sort highlights how powerful the film is and how Anne Aghion has captured the feelings and incorporated them into the film so successfully.

Narrative is used throughout the trailer, revealing the events that have occuured within Rwanda. I believe that narrative was used in order to educate audiences explaining to them the affairs that have occured, especially due to the individuals that are oblivious to the experiences the people of Rwanda haved battled against. The white writing on the black background is used in order to make the text stand out to the audience, by making it look much more bolder, allowing it to be largely focused on when shown to audiences.

Within the trailer, there are variations of sound. These vary through both; “Digetic and Non-Digetic”. Digetic – “Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film“. Within the trailer the “digetic” sound produced includes the churping of birds, crickets etc; this adds a natural ambience to the trailer which in effect adds to the reality of the film as a whole. It allows us to distinguish the fact that the film is set in a country that is extremely rural and district as these are not sounds heard in inner city or urban areas. Other digetic sounds include the noises produced from various electrical equipments, for example; fans attached to houses, etc. The Non – Digetic elements in this film includes a variety of things, these contain; the instruments used in order to produce music are not visible therefore it is likely that the music has been produced in an alternative way off screen meaning it cannot be heard by the actors, also the singing produced by a female cannot be heard by the actors however I have noticed that it always accompanies the narrative that comes up onscreen (then is played lower or not played at all once a character speaks) possibly expressing the feelings of the characters through music, in what seems like a possible Rwandan language.

The conflict between the male and female characters towards the penultimate stages (the court scene- which in fact takes place outside, shows us that there are not places of law), highlights that there is still hardship between people amongst the Rwandan community due to the severity of what has happened. It shows us as an audience that the villagers are still finding it difficult to accept what has happened and for that reason they are refusing to forgive each other and move forward within their lives.

Throughout the duration of this trailer, it doesnt seem as if anyone is happy the trailer. It allows us as an audience to depict that they are living through pain and sorrow, and are sturggling to cope with the stresses and strains devloped during there time in current situations. However, it is hard to make this statement because people do not necessarily have to smile in order to prove their happiness. The fact that they are still alive may be a factor that contributes to their happiness, but we do not know this. But if you were in the same situation, would you be happy? I do not think so, therefore the main reason I think no happy emotions are displayed in this trailer/film is so that any real feelings or emotions are not lost, mis-representated or hindered.

Colour Scheme

The red writing on the black background is significant because, without actually watching the film you are lead to believe that there is bloodshed or death occuring within the film hence the use o the colour red. The black background allows the title of the film “My Neighbor, My Killer” to stand out much more, as it is made more evident.

From the trailer, it allows the audience to depict that the killings were by people who lived in extremely close proximities. Also, we discover through the use of subtitles that the laywers and other authoritarians were in fact the neighbours residing in the same area.

Towards the end stages of the trailer, a female character leaves the audience with a probing question; “If it were you, what would you say?, what would you do?” – this particular question reveals the pain and suffering the people of Rwanda must be experiencing, in which they are trying to make you imagine. She is asking a question in which nobody can begin to answer, or nobody can fully answer. It is extremely emotional what these people have had to go through. This trailer makes us as an audience realise how materialistic we are, and how ungrateful we act and due to that fact this is why large majorities feel sympathetic when watching it. My belief in this is due to  the reviews that the film received from various newspapers and critics.

Click on the link below to view the full trailer

http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/my-neighbor-my-killer/trailer

By Tyrone Callender – Edwards 13w