TYPE
This is a mixed documentary. It includes interviews, archive footage, narration and observation.
This is a mixed documentary. It includes interviews, archive footage, narration and observation.
THEMES
Death, violence, the death penalty, the nature nurture debate
Death, violence, the death penalty, the nature nurture debate
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
The documentary follows a linear narrative. First establishing who Aileen is and what she did in the beginning. The middle discusses her childhood and events that occurred which would eventually result in the killing of 7 men. Te end then focuses on Aileen’s execution.
The documentary follows a linear narrative. First establishing who Aileen is and what she did in the beginning. The middle discusses her childhood and events that occurred which would eventually result in the killing of 7 men. Te end then focuses on Aileen’s execution.
CAMERAWORK
we are often shown close-ups of Aileen’s confession as the camera pans down, as though we are reading it. The close up gives us a further, and sometimes intimate relationship with the serial killer, but the dark lighting that often surrounds the shot creates a sinister tone.
we are often shown close-ups of Aileen’s confession as the camera pans down, as though we are reading it. The close up gives us a further, and sometimes intimate relationship with the serial killer, but the dark lighting that often surrounds the shot creates a sinister tone.
When the narrator tells the viewer that Aileen admitted to murdering 7 men, the camera uses an extreme close up and the lighting becomes lighter around Aileen’s letter where she had handwritten ‘7 deaths’. This reinforces what the narrator is saying and emphasis the barbaric nature of Aileen’s crimes.
All interviews are shot in a mid shot, emphasising the importance of the interviewee.
MISE-EN-SCENE
There is a shot of a jail cell, where lighting is used to cast a cell-shaped shadow across the room, emphasising the theme and dark nature of crime, a basis of the documentary’s topic
There is a shot of a jail cell, where lighting is used to cast a cell-shaped shadow across the room, emphasising the theme and dark nature of crime, a basis of the documentary’s topic
When the narrator discusses where Aileen grew up, the camera uses an establishing shot of a street in Michigan. The street is baron, implying the vulnerability of the community after the crimes of Aileen.
Interviews are conducted in the interviewee’s natural environment, making us feel that they are comfortable and what they are saying is the truth, with no restrictions.
SOUND
The film has 2 narrators. One being a stern, calm male voice, informing us of important facts and knowledge needed to fully understand the documentary, but also the voice of an actress, who speaks as the voice of Aileen Wuornos, giving us a more ‘intimate’ insight on her life and crimes and also anchors meaning.
The film has 2 narrators. One being a stern, calm male voice, informing us of important facts and knowledge needed to fully understand the documentary, but also the voice of an actress, who speaks as the voice of Aileen Wuornos, giving us a more ‘intimate’ insight on her life and crimes and also anchors meaning.
The music at the start is very chilling and consists of only a piano using high notes. Creating an eerie atmosphere, relating to the heinousness of Aileen’s crimes
When the narrator discusses how Aileen was a beautiful child, the music changes to a string piece, the melody of which is soft, emphasising the beauty and angelic potential of Aileen.
The actress playing Aileen in the documentary says ‘let me begin my confessions to you with when I was a child’ At this point the piano music begins to change into a lullaby like tone. Creating a childlike atmosphere, relating to the narrative.
EDITING
After the male narrator says that Aileen’s was convicted for seven murders, a photograph of all of these men, smiling flashed through rapidly. The emphasis the cruelty of Aileen’s actions, that these men, who lived happy lives, were taken from the world so easily, and so quickly.
After the male narrator says that Aileen’s was convicted for seven murders, a photograph of all of these men, smiling flashed through rapidly. The emphasis the cruelty of Aileen’s actions, that these men, who lived happy lives, were taken from the world so easily, and so quickly.
After this, we are shown archive footage of Aileen in court, where she says that if she were let free, she would kill again. This is cleverly selected to create a biased opinion against Aileen, perhaps to make us feel uneasy and relieve us now she’s dead, or , as she is crying at this point, empathise with her and allow us to realise her mental instability.
ARCHIVE MATERIAL
The film uses archive material of Aileen’s trials and pictures from her childhood. This is used to either reinforce what the narrator, or an an interviewee is saying or to anchor meaning.
The film uses archive material of Aileen’s trials and pictures from her childhood. This is used to either reinforce what the narrator, or an an interviewee is saying or to anchor meaning.
GRAPHICSThe graphics used to introduce the interviewees are small and plain, so not to distract the viewer from what they are saying.
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