Wasp Essay

Zoe is in the pub, speaking with Dave. At this point, Arnold is trying to present Zoe and Dave’s relationship and also convey the message that Zoe desires some form of intimacy, physical or emotional, from Dave - clearly she has been deprived of that (she told her children) due to the burden of single motherhood.

The scene starts with a few shots setting the scene of the pub. The final of these set up shots is a one armed bandit with all 3 pictures being hearts. The next shot then moves on to Zoe, which is a use of the Kuleshov effect to give the spectator some insight on her emotional state - she is looking for love, perhaps as an escape from her responsibilities as a mother. This (and the dialogue) allows the spectator to partly understand the existence and the nature of Dave and Zoe’s relationship without having to be shown. Another use of editing in this scene , however for a different intent, is the cross cutting between Zoe in the pub and her children outside. Putting these two spheres of action side by side highlights Zoe’s struggle to juggle a social life and also take care of her children at the same time. This use of cross cutting shows how she is putting herself before her children, as the spectator is constantly reminded that while she is in the pub having fun, her kids are outside alone, which is naturally not very appealing to their safety. Arnold is making a criticism on the standards of living and parenthood in this specific socio-economic environment, portraying it in a negative light, as the spectator is appalled by the lack of responsibility from Zoe.

Cinematographically speaking,  when the two are conversing, close ups of both their faces are used to create a feeling of intimacy - in terms of proxemics, there is very little empty space between them which is created both by the shot size and blocking. That closeness they have also conveys the message that their feelings for each other are real, as it resonates beyond just the script, but is also portrayed through shot type, as well as other microfeatures mentioned later. The depth of field is very shallow - only Zoe and Dave are in focus, which is a physical representation of how they are only focused on each other, showing they share strong romantic feelings.

In terms of sound, the music being played by the pub has noticeably changed from party music to slower pace, more romantic and quiet music, with a warm and gentle timbre and low pitch, which emphasises the intimacy between Zoe and Dave - the music is synchronous with their relationship. This use of sound creates a romantic and relaxed mood felt by the spectator so that they can empathise with Zoe. By creating that empathetic link between the spectator and Zoe, what Arnold is trying to do is get the viewer to consider Zoe’s perspective - it’s her "first night out in ages", and her feelings for Dave are real.

In terms of costume design, the colour palette for Zoe's outfit is used by Arnold to make her intent with Dave clear - she is trying to woo him. Her vest is red , and red is symbolic of passion and love, so the spectator can infer that she is passionate about him. The red also stands out from the rest of the frame as it contrasts from the brown background.