“In my father’s Den” Symbols

1. “In my father’s Den”Symbols Directed by Brad Mc Gann

3. What the meaning could be • Before viewing • Reference • Spirituality • We always light a votive candle at the cathedral or when we pray silently in our room • After viewing

4. The technique

5. The technique used • Explain: The filmmaker has used a low angle shot to film the hawk high above floating on the wind currents. • Analyse: This shot shows the viewer that the hawk is ever present. The hawk is used here by the filmmaker to portray death because just like the hawk that swoops swiftly to catch it’s unsuspecting prey so too death is ever present and swoops swiftly and silently when least expected.

6. Analyse perceptively • My understanding of this technique used here in the opening scene of the film is that the filmmaker wanted to show that Celia is lying on the railway tracks below and the hawk symbolising death is ever present and will swoop quickly later in the film when she will not expect death to come at all.

7. Possible interpretation? • Before viewing • A hawk is a predator • A hawk swoops down unexpectedly and takes the prey away • After viewing

9. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • When we hear the wind chimes we can be reminded of things that happened in a place a long time ago perhaps.

11. Possible interpretation • Fright • When a horse is frightened it is known to bolt...run away from that place or that thing.

13. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • A person running away from something or someone • A scared person • A person that has seen something or somebody • After viewing

15. Technique used • EXPLAIN: The technique that the filmmaker has used here is a high angle shot or even a bird’s eye view shot to film Celia lying on the railway tracks. • ANALYSE: The filmmaker has used the symbol of the railway tracks and Celia lying on her back on the railway tracks to indicate to the viewer that she has a longing to be somewhere else. Somewhere outside of this small town existence of Rapere Junction.

16. Analyse perceptively • I am of opinion that the filmmaker has used this technique to indicate to the viewer that Celia is a cut above this small town existence, that she really is a bit special. She is really a star because later in the film she enters a short story competition and her short story is published in the Otago Daily Times. This also links to what she later says in the film: “I would rather be a nobody somewhere than a somebody nowhere.” Meaning Rapere Junction, a small town on a small island New Zealand is nowhere...nobody in the world knows where this is.

17. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • Railway tracks takes one into a place but it also has the possibility of leading you out of a place • After viewing

19. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • Locks people in • Locks strangers out • Keeps people isolated and alone • After viewing

21. Possible interpretation • A star • A brilliant thing or person • After viewing

23. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • The sea • Memory • Whanau • After viewing

25. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • The world is a big place • There is a world out there • After viewing

27. Techniques used • EXPLAIN: The filmmaker has made use of a wide establishing shot of the river to locate the viewer and to show the viewer the wide open Otago plains. The river is where Iris, Paul’s mum commits suicide later in the film and where Celia’s body will be found, so the filmmaker is making a crucial connection here in the opening scene of the film to later events by using the technique of foreshadowing.

28. Analyse • The consequence of this is that when the viewer witness the scene where Iris stands in the river with the shotgun pointed at her chin it is almost as if the story has come full circle and the circle is now complete. We the viewer understands that the river is a symbol of life and the life of these two characters has been swept away...taken out of this existence.

29. Analyse perceptively • My judgement of the use of this technique is that the filmmaker has used foreshadowing well in this case because if the river was only shown in the confrontation scene it would have left the viewer disorientated and confused. It reminds me of a similar film “A river runs through” where the young protagonist dies in a daring accident by thinking himself to be invincible and diving over a huge waterfall. Again the idea of the river of life is seen.

30. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • A lifeline • Life • A way in • A way out • After viewing

32. Possible interpretation • My own place • A place where I can get away from everyone and everything

34. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • The world is a big place • I want to go here and here and here every time pressing with your finger on strange foreign places that you have never seen or heard of. • After viewing

36. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • Fire cleanses everything • Fire destroys everything • After viewing

38. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • A lighter starts the flame • A lighter starts the process of bringing renewal • “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never been able to destroy the light...” • Quote from the New Testament • After viewing

40. Explain • Foreshadowing • Shock

41. Analyse • Camera shot • Symbolism

42. Analyse • Foreshadowing • Shock

43. Analyse Perceptively • Camera Shot • Symbolism

44. Analyse perceptively • foreshadowing • shock

45. Technique used • Explain: High Angle or bird’s eye view shot • Explain: Symbolism

46. Possible interpretation • Before viewing • Spilled stories • Blood spilled • After viewing