Analysis of the final cut

Line:

Line is mostly used to show the protagonist's discomfort and stress. This is demonstrated through the lines in the props and set. They draw the audiences eye off to a tangent which creates disorientation and thus discomfort.

Shape:

For the purpose of intensity, two shapes are used specifically in relation the protagonist. Squares are present when the protagonist is doing their  "routine" performance; being that they do what they normally would each time they come to the art studio. It suggests a sense of equilibrium for the audience. However, whenever circles come into shot, that's where emotion starts to come in.

 For example, the quarter of the circle in the corner of the frame as she strokes the painting with emotion, the moment when she opens the jar; the circular lid foreshadows the trigger of the emotion of sadness, the final painting is in a circle to reflect the polices' changing perspective of it; they begin to look at it more on an emotional level.

Tone:

For the intense scenes, tone is contrasted to make the frame staggered. For example, the police always wear black in a white walled garage which shows they are permanently contrasting against the protagonist's studio due to the large dynamic range. The protagonist also where black on white later in the film to add to the contrast. However, this is done midway through as a way of foreshadowing that she will soon be in danger. 

When she arrives, she wears a colour that creates more affinity to the walls and the canvas showing that she is meant to be there in the first place; due to  the shorter dynamic range. This shows that all is currently calm as she sets up her studio to carry on with her painting.

Her skin tone is also in affinity to the cream coloured canvas as she touches it and paints on it. Again reducing the intensity and creating more affinity of tone to indicate that she and the painting are connected.

Colour:

To an extent, we used the Pleasntville effect in colour grading to make the protagonist saturated and the environment excluding the canvas, desaturated. We did this showing that she does not belong in the world she's in. Here, colour shows her passion for creativity in a world where it is prohibited. 

Desaturated the environment also enhances the red in the canvas making it stand out a lot more to the audience. It can either overwhelm them in shock knowing it's made from blood and/or it overwhelms them in the hipe of seeing colour in a film where it is highly limited or at most bland or in a low saturation.

Narrative:

Protagonist's want = to create her final masterpiece

Protagonist's need = to let go of her vengeance and anger

Protagonist's flaw = the traumatic memories of her forced abortion

Antagonist = The oppression inflicted by the government

Act 1:

• Introduction to protagonist and the police pursuing her in a tense opening
• Introduction to the protagonist's work space and their "call" to finish their painting
• Introduce the police broadcast in pursuit of a "suspect"

Act 2:

• Discover the protagonist's love for her child that was taken from her
• Point of no return, she cuts herself to use her blood as paint
• Police grow closer forcing her to paint faster

Act 3:

• Protagonist uses everything they have left to finish their painting and then faces the police
• She is held down and apparently 'loses' until the police are changed by looking at the painting
• Protagonist has achieved her goal and is more wiser at the end in changing the police's emotions towards the painting