Freedom Writers Eva’s Paco did it scene

Freedom Writers directed by Richard LaGravanese, which was adapted from The Freedom Writers Diary which is a true story of how one dedicated teacher changed lives of children who were seen to have no future, who nobody believed in. Freedom Writers is a crime fiction, drama based genre film. Freedom Writers teaches the audience that empowerment can change lives, I am analysing the scene of character Eva, I like to call this a scene of “courage” as that is the theme of this two minute scene. 

This scene acts as a turning point for Eva as she was inspired by the speech from Miep, Eva decided to do the right thing and tell the truth. This is an important act of courage, by telling the truth at the court hearing ultimately Eva will be considered as betraying ‘her own people’. 

The scene begins with an opening of Eva at home talking to her mother about the upcoming case, her mother looks a decent woman yet continues to push Eva on at ‘what she needs to do’. Her mother expresses that it is better to lie and protect your ‘blood’ rather than telling the truth; this clearly depicts to the audience the enormous amount of pressure Eva is under from the people she loves most.

The audience is then exposed to witnessing Eva’s level of anger confusion and frustration as she shouts at her mother “What do you want from me?” The dialogue reveals Eva is at a loss in terms of not knowing how to escape the pressures from her family but also the pressures from her own morale conscience to do ‘the right thing’ as taught by Erin. It is clear that making a choice between the two is causing Eva great distress which is shown to the audience as the camera follows Eva outside where we hear the diegetic sound of her kicking the railings. This scene portrays to the audience Eva at her most helpless moment in which she knows no other way but to handle a difficult situation with further acts of violence.

The camera is then cut to a quiet and peaceful night scene to Eva’s classmate asking to be taken back into his family home as his mother had decided the right thing to do in order to teach her son a good lesson would be to throw him out on to the streets that he so enjoyed being a part of. Whilst pleading with his mother to let him come back home, the light is shone on his mother, when she finally agrees to let him return home the light then shines on both characters, this shows he has literally come into the light and has given up the darkness of the street and gang life. The audience is then left to wonder if Eva will have the courage to do the same.

The camera is then cut into the court room which is filled with natural day light. The camera pans along the back of the heads of those sitting in the public gallery watching the case unfold, it is clear to us the audience they are mainly male and look like gang members. This reveals the pressure Eva is under, the presents of the gang members is a silent yet an intentional act of threat by the gangs in order to add further pressure for Eva to lie.

A bright light shines on Eva’s face, the spotlight is literally on her. Several view shots allow the audience to feel sympathy for Eva as she looks between her mother and the various gang members. Eva sees the boy who has been wrongly accused of murder with his family members sitting  behind him. Eva also looks at the girlfriend of the boy who was shot, it seems everywhere Eva looks people are staring at her hoping she does what they want. Eva feels caught in the middle which is shown by her facial expressions but slightly lifts her shoulders as an act of defiance for what is to come. Her frightened eyes is a clear indication of what she is about to reveal will forever destroy all relations between her family, community and ultimately the gangs that control their existence.

There is very little noise in the court room which intensifies the pressure on Eva as everybody listens intently to what she will say as key witness.
Eva is dressed in dark clothes with the cross hanging around her neck is symbolic to that of somebody seeking guidance in a very dark situation.

The camera does a close up shot of Eva’s face and finally she says “It was Paco. Paco did it.” Her firm facial expression along with the tears in her eyes is evidently the proof of the trauma she has lived in the run up to the court hearing. Eva is a brave and honest character and reveals she is the product of a good teacher... Erin. The camera then turns and closely focuses on her crying mother and a furious looking Paco, Eva is fully aware of the consequence of her brave decision.

The court room scene is followed by further drama as Eva is chased by her own gang members eager for revenge and the sound of a gunshot being fired can be heard, Eva’s facial expression shows she was expecting this. The diegetic sound reveals the level of violence and harshness of the situation.

The scene of violence and fear cuts into one of peace and trust. Eva is in the classroom talking to Erin, this is the first time we see Eva engaging with Erin and this becomes the turning point for both characters in the film as Erin places her hand on-top of Eva’s.

Eva’s classmate and former rival, April, comes in and allows Eva to borrow her makeup. The makeup is a prop which reminds the audience that despite all of the chaos in their lives they are still normal young girls.

This scene is then cut to a montage and upbeat non-diegetic sound. The background music says “Stand for truth, stand for peace” This reveals the now optimistic mood of the film as the audience can see the positive changes the pupils are beginning to make.

Ralph, Short Film Review

This short film begins with a young boy of late teenage years coming off a train accompanied by his big black suitcase in Paris. Dressed very casually in trainers, baggy tracksuit bottoms and a red Burberry polo shirt with his collar buttoned up and a thick silver chain wrapped around the neck of his shirt displays the air of somebody confident and streetwise. Yet, when the camera focuses on him from a distance as he stands alone on the platform with his suitcase in close reach, he looks almost lost and vulnerable. It is clear by just standing and waiting he was expecting to be met by somebody which we later find out to be a girl by the name of Claire.

Pulling at his suitcase he finds a phone booth and calls Claire to confirm his arrival but to his dismay the number he was given by Claire is incorrect, when the camera does a close shot of his face at that moment, we see a confused boy who becomes desperate to find a solution to an unexpected situation. He plays  with the numbers on his piece of paper hoping that one of these numbers will connect him to Claire but all his attempts connect him to French speaking strangers... when his phone card eventually runs out of credit he leaves the Metro to buy another phone card to continue calling all the tens of numbers he has desperately created from the incorrect telephone number he was given.

As he enters the graffiti washed streets of Paris and into the natural sunny day light away from the depressive underground lighting, the Director allows the audience to feel a glimmer of hope with the effective change of light which also becomes evident on the boys sudden confidence boost as we witness him have very little difficulty communicating with the people of Paris.

Having had to buy a plate of chips in order for the devious Cafe manager to sell him a phone card, we are also introduced to the temperamental waitress whom takes an instant dislike to the cockney speaking southern English boy as his suitcase becomes an obstacle for her to work around.

Once again as he hopelessly attempts to call Claire but fails to reach her, anger takes the better of him, frustrated and lost for ideas he resorts to punching and kicking the phone booth of the outdoor Cafe, noticing his frustration the temperamental waitress is instantly drawn to him, in him she feels the build up of her own unhappiness and frustration and decides to show him a kinder side of herself. As the camera zooms in we see an instant connection between boy and waitress, the call he so desperately tried to make had finally reached its receiver, the waitress. A boy in his late teenage years, vulnerable and alien to his surroundings desperately seeking refuge in Claire’s life suddenly finds himself captured by a waitress that has just lost her job for conversing with him whilst on duty by the mean manager. The big black suitcase that had been pulled and pushed around all day which can also be interpreted as a sign of new beginnings had finally reached its purpose.