Whats Virgin Mean?

What type of short film is this? Offer a brief summary

of its approach and structure.
This is a short film with a story like structure. The film begins with a domestic scene of a
mother and daughter in an everyday situation of cooking and the little girl doing her
homework. She asks a question and her mother is taken aback by her asking what a virgin is.
She then continues telling her story and trying to explain what it means. This is a linear
narrative, with several shot reverse shots. There were also several midshots suggesting an
everyday lifestyle. This results in a mothers misunderstanding to her daughters question, she
meant virgin as in oil not the sexual terms. The linear narrative consists of midshots over the
shoulder 180 degree sots and close ups of their house emphasizing it is a family home.
Throughout the film it provides a high degree of narrative closure therefore Pam Cooks
theory did apply to this film. The film continuously provided closure and every scene made
sense.
What techniques has the director used to create
meaning (refer to macro and micro elements)?
I think the director specifically uses details in the mis en scene such as homely wooden tables, curtains,
cooking pans etc. to create a domestic environment. The soundtrack was also just her voice talking over
and she emphasizes a sweet soft voice because she is a mother. This creates a strong meaning of family
and innocence between a mother and daughter. The cinematography consists of several midshots off the
shoulder shots, shot reverse shot and over the shoulder shots. There are also close ups of props in the
kitchen such as the radio and the wooden spoon. These conventions highlight the life they live in revolved
around family and a good family sphere. Also the mis en scene of a big house and sound of the mothers
voice cooking dinner creates a family atmosphere and the words she uses suggests she is of a middle class
background. The director also created characterization using mis en scene which let us as the audience
know the meaning of their characters; a caring mother and a innocent young daughter. Applying this to
Pam Cooks theory this film did have centrality of the narrative agency of fully rounded characters because
we did know a lot about the two characters.
Who do you think this text was made for? What do you think the purpose of
this film is and how effective is this text in fulfilling that purpose? What are
the underlying messages and values of this short film?
I think this text was made for families because its very domestic with slight humor. However,
mainly women due to the maternal feeling we sense between a mother and daughters
relationship. The light heartedness joke of the time regarding a young girl discovering sex is
an awkward time humorous due the mothers amateur assumption her daughter wants to
know. I think this text was effective in fulfilling its purpose because it gives a family like
atmosphere. I believe the underlying messages and values of this short film is that the
awkward time to talk to your daughter about sex can be funny and something that they
might not even need be ready to know yet. The ending with her questioning What does
extra virgin mean? shows the light hearted humour of the whole film. Applying it to Pam
Cooks theory the film provided linearity of cause and effect towards an overall trajectory of
enigma resolution. As the audience we felt satisfied with the ending and felt the text was
resolved.