Half The Sky Film Techniques

In the film Half the Sky, filmic elements cinematic techniques are used to produce the meaning of raising the awareness of women abuse through documentary. Several filmic elements were used in the film, including interviews, narration, the use of sorrowful music and the use of close-ups. In terms of effectiveness, interviews, music and close-ups are more effective in bringing the meaning of the movie. However, narration is less effective in my opinion.

To start off with, one of the filmic elements in the film is interviewing actresses, victims and the advocates. In the beginning of the film, several celebrities are interviewed, including Mary Robinson, the President of Ireland, and Hilary Clinton, the United States Secretary of State. Interviews are more effective in raising the awareness of women abuse in the movie because the use of this element bring out the knowledge of these professionals, producing the meaning of the oppression of women, making the theme more convincing. There are tension in the atmosphere of the scenes of human trafficking and sexual abused. The movie tells the stories of the girls, and then splices in interviews with the actresses, victims and the advocates. To me, it is helpful to have the victims and the girls expressing their opinions and ideas about what they are witnessing, and
When the narrator introduced the brothels in Cambodia and how the police and the advocates saved the victims, the music was heavy and sorrowful, leading to the pounding of the heart of the audience and it increases the tension because the music brings out the uncertainty of hope of the girls. Moreover, close-ups in the movie are used to focus on some evidence found by the police like log book, and blood. These shots weight the air and make the audience short of breath. Hence, it raises the awareness of women abused and oppression of