When analysing films we come to look at the content and context of the film. From the content we discover in which time period and place the film is set and through the content such as the characters, events and plot, we get a greater insight as to what message the film is trying to convey or what it is about. In Ana’s Playground and The Cabin in the Woods discussions of gender are seen throughout the content and context of the film when it is analysed through its cinematic coding.
Ana’s Playground, 2009 is a short film about a group of young children playing a game of soccer on the streets in a war-torn country. When their ball is kicked over a fence, Ana is faced to risk her life in a challenge to retrieve the soccer ball whilst a sniper is shooting at her. Violence is the main thematic value within Ana’s Playground as it is present throughout the whole film.The film gives us an insight of how children live and experience the violence that occurs within war-torn countries. The four children seen within this film is Ana, what appears to be her little sister, and two other boys. When Ana is chosen through the use of coin flipping, to retrieve the ball from over the fence, the audience would expect one of the boys to replace this life risking duty as this is a gender expectation from the audience. This shows that the female gender is represented as being obedient but also very vulnerable. From the very moment Ana is chosen to retrieve the ball, is a representation of her innocence and naivety being lost.
The Cabin in the Woods, 2011 is a recent Hollywood comedy horror film about five friends that go on a holiday to a remote cabin in the woods and unknowingly are being observed and become victims for a ritual.
The narrative codes within these films make the stories easily comprehensible to the audience. The title Ana’s Playground suggests to the audience that this film is about children and innocence. A playground is place where children grow, learn and play and their innocence is strongly shown. Although when we watch the film, a playground is depicted in a totally different way. The playground is represented as like an arena, where Ana has to avoid and come across obstacles in order to stay alive. It is her playground, a place that will determine whether she lives or dies. The story within this film is told through the point of view of Ana, a young girl aged around 10 years of age. We know this because the camera is mainly focused on her, or the events occurring are seen through the view of her eyes. Even though this story is told from Ana’s perspective, there is no dialogue at all. This increases intensity and suspense for the viewer.