In Lynne Ramsays "Gasman", the economic trouble of the working class in Glasgow is portrayed through a family where the father does his best to see both of his children from separate mothers, without the daughters being aware of their relation. Although not gripping and full of plot twists, the drama still exists but the very real concept is told via a slow, show don't tell approach where the narrative is revealed through clever camera work such as close ups of the two girls hands indicating their sibling relationship the are currently unaware of. Throughout, the film plays at a real speed but is briefly manipulated when the camera deliberately alters and the frames slow down to reveal the inner thoughts the girl is having when looking at the other girl who looks very similar. This is brief and stops when the brother asks who they are. The narrative told only exists within the working class and during an economic downfall when perhaps some families in Glasgow struggled to provide for their children so this could of been different a decade later.
The lack of dialogue within the film makes me as the viewer question where the father is taking the children and I particularly like the long shots such as when the camera cuts from the house to the wide uphill street which lingers on the kids following the Dad. This gives you the potential viewpoint as if you were following them or looking on (the mothers view) and also hints at how empty the area is. Initially, I was surprised at how little Ramsay reveals of the characters and I liked how we saw the girl doing what she enjoys (dancing) and not the characters face as we are drawn into the typical dialogue of the mother getting her daughter ready.
One class is portrayed throughout the film, the working class where the children are seemingly happy and enjoy playing together. The struggle the father faces economically is not apparent to them and the kids know no better as this is the only environment they have grown up in. The place (Glasgow) is presented as rundown and bleak through the lighting which is tinted on the camera throughout. A darker saturation of colour suggests this was a place with bleak prospects in the time era.
Ramsay grew up in a setting similar to some of her short films such as "Ratcatcher".The strong accent left in the films was left in to add authenticity. Because of this, she can give insight into the time era and show a childhood from Glasgow from a personal account. In her New York times biography, the work of hers is described as "gritty, realistic visual style that demands attention". This is certainly true for her cinematography.
Aspects of Mise en scene help to convey a dark time for Glasgow as the screen is darker and the grass, withered and not growing as they walk to the Christmas party. This gives a very melancholy outlook. The image is much darker and there is focus on the girls body language which is slightly withdrawn and ponderous at times to show the audience she is suspecting the girl could be her sister.
Similarly, Ramsay explored childhood in other short films such as Ratcatcher which was her debut feature film winning numerous awards and a BAFTA for British Newcomer (2000). The film follows a young boy James, who was play figting with another boy who drowns. There is innocence in the clip we watched as he explores the potential new house his family could move into.
The point of view shots enable us to step into the child's world and look more cinematic than that of Andrea Arnolds work. The still taken from this clip below is a very heavy image of meaning. Perhaps the this is a metaphor for opportunity and delivering the message of the grass being greener on the other side as we know from the start of this clip, the child lives in an impoverished area. The reaction of the boys face also provides us with wonder which doesn't come from dialogue or exclamation such as " wow".
