Textual Analysis of Pudding Bowl

'Pudding Bowl' is a short film directed by Vanessa Caswill (7:52). The plot of it is centred around a little girl named Ivy whose older brother pours glue on her hair while she is dreaming of having a stylish hairstyle like the models in the magazines she is cutting up, resulting in her mother giving her a bowl haircut. She takes revenge on her brother by stealing his bike and riding it down the street, imagining she is one of the models in her magazines.

EDITING

• Blurred imagery is used when the camera angle is from Ivy's POV without her glasses, to show how bad her vision is
• A swipe is used across the screen to indicate the passing of time
• Rapid and short cuts are used during Ivy's haircut to show the harshness of the act

CAMERAWORK

• Extreme close up on Ivy's concentrating face to show innocence and naivety
• Brutality of the mother shown in close up of her using the meat mincer
• Metaphor shown through low angle shot where the hair falls onto the camera to represent Ivy's dreams of having beautiful hair being cut from her

SOUND

• Melancholy background instrumental used for empathy from the audience when Ivy looks at her new haircut in the mirror
• Little dialogue t show how Ivy has no input or control of actions taken within the family- no voice
• The mother's loud and harsh voice shows her aggression and how strict she is
• Happy and upbeat music plays at the end to show Ivy's celebration at getting revenge on her brother

MISE-EN-SCENE

• 50s setting- time period clothes and popular hairstyles
• Kitchen equipment from the 50s
• Ivy crumpling the image of a model in her hand as her mother cuts her hair symbolises her dreams being crumpled