In this short film, the narrative focuses on two sisters, Lisle and Aurora. As the short film progresses, we as an audience get a sense of how the characters interact with each other. In this image, Lisle is first introduce in her younger age. She is shown in bright red and blue colors, with a playful undertone. She seems to be the more innocent of the two sisters. Their relationship is a key factor in driving the plot of the film. This aspect will be explored further in later sections. The character aspect of the film is essential for the audience to connect with the protagonists because if properly executed, we as an audience feel a sense of connection to the story.
The setting often changes in this short to accomodate the two protagonists. The setting in this still is particularly interesting because it represents the mystical world, the magical and also crosses over to the theme of the unknown. But nonetheless, this setting plays the most significant role in the film because it resolves the conflicts of the characters. With Lisle, she finds her mother as a child. With Aurora, she comes to terms with the argument with her mother and finds forgiveness and bliss. The other important setting is the farm from scene in the beginning. This setting represents the isolation that these characters have with the rest of the world, and in the abstract represent the characters emotional isolation with each other. Lisle cannot communicate her desire for finding her mother, and Aurora cannot communicate her sadness with her mothers death because of Lisle's lack of understanding. Other settings include the hospital, the graveyard, and the diner.
The relationship portrayed in this short is between sisters Lisle and Aurora. In the beginning, it is revealed that the two have a healthy relationship because they are playing some variation of cops and robbers - they are interacting with each other. It is also communicated that Aurora may be the agressor and Lisle the victim. We see this through not only the older sister, younger sister relationship but also because of the characters they are acting as: a sheriff and a robber. Further in the short, this playful representation comes to reality when the sisters react to the death of their mother differently. Aurora is the angry and takes out her anger on Lisle's innocence. The relationship seems to be breaking apart. What is interesting is how their relationship in the years between the young plotline and the old plotline is not shown. This causes the audience to assume that it is not together. By the end of the film, their relationship is mended, ending in a overcoming of their past.
There are many goals in this film as a result of the many parts of the story. Also because there are two main characters, each has their own goals to achieve. One of the main goals is from the character of Lisle; she does not understand death and therefore desires to be reunited with her mother. This is her primary goal. The goal drives Lisle's character because it reveals her innocence as well as her backstory. Her character is further emphasized when she does achieve her goal - reaching her mother. She reunites with her mother in the white, mystical world. Having the setting stay in a magical world ultimately reveals more about Lisle character. The goal in this film is successful because it not only shows character motivation, it also reveals more about the characters
The overarching obstacle in this film is the relationship between the sisters. The tensions between them are shown in multiple points of the film starting from the death of the mother. The death is the catalyst for the character's obstacles. The sisters seems to be separating from each other as shown by the different interests of the sisters. The first being the space between the sisters when they are sitting apart on their front yard. The next is the night/graveyard sequence. When the reach the gate, Lisle and Aurora cannot pass the gate because it is locked. This gate is a physical representation of the the barrier between the sisters. When Lisle climbs over the gate, they are separated. The interesting part is how the obstacle represents the sisters' relationship because even when they are grown up, the tensions are still apparent; it is not until Lisle and Aurora explain everything that the obstacle is overcome.
The mood in this film is much melancholy. The two sisters are in a stage of distress in both time period. As children, they have to face the death of the mother; as adults, they face the separation between their relationship. The mood often affects the film through dramatic light and the character's emotions. For example, in the above still frame, Aurora is dimly lit with very dramatic fall off on her face. This darkness is apparent throughout the entire film. The mood is established through the darkness that is strung throughout the film. Furthermore, the emotions shown by Lisle and Aurora further emphasizes this melancholy mood.
Time is expressed in this film through the two different time periods. This highlights the gap between the sisters because in the film, we learn that they became distant due to the different feelings towards the mother's death. The different times shown emphasizes the sisters' separation. We do not know if they have made up with each other or are still apart - this adds suspense and wonder to the main plot line. Another aspect of time used in the film is the techniques of editing. Strung throughout the film are different shot lengths which are held out to emphasize certain points or highlight things of significance. This manipulation of time affects how the audience interprets the film because the editing or lack thereof, dictates the speed and time of the film.
This short is interesting because of how the backstory is woven into the narrative. The death of the mother is, as the audience probably concludes, from some sort of terminal illness or cancer. The audience then wonders how long the sisters have lives without their mothers. Because of the lack of a mother figure in their life, this significantly strengthens how the audience perceives the sisters - they stay close to fill the void of their mother. However, immediately after the hospital scene, the sisters are bitter to each other. Another aspect of how backstory translates into the short is the gap between their childhood and their adult life. The audience wonders what has happened in between these years and have to create a conclusion of their own.
The helps set the mood for this film. The unknown is included in various parts - from the cartoon spaceship sequence to the white magic world. The use of the unknown can reveal character, specifically for Lisle. Through the space sequence, we visualize how childish she really is. Her youth gives her innocence. The white sequence with Lisle also shows that she strives to connect once again with her mother. It is interesting how this aspect of 'unknown' is shared between the two sisters. In this sense, the unknown plays a role to unite the sisters.
Discovery in this film provides a sense of closure, a solution to the problem, a climax to the film. The sisters discover a part of the other that they have no understood before. It provides a sense of closure in that they understand the emotions that they each were feeling at the time of the death of their mother. Reuniting with the mother, even in the magical realm relieved Aurora, the older sister. The realization that her mother was not upset about the last words Aurora said made her feel less regret. Being able to encounter her mother one last time provided a rewarding resolution to the short film.
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