Coming Down the Mountain - Representation of Disability

Discuss the ways in which the extact constructs the representations of ability/disability using the following:

• Camera shots, angles, movement and composition
• Editing
• Sound
• Mise en Scene

Camera, editing, sound and mise en scene are used in the extract of Coming Down the Mountain to construct the representations of ability and disability.
When the extract first begins there is a bird's-eye view shot that has both an able bodied and disabled person. Within the composition of the shot, the two subjects (the two boys) are positioned with a large physical distance between them in relation to the shot. However, David is also positioned closer to the centre of the screen, in the centre third vertically and about half in the centre third horizontally. This shows that the boy with more ability is more important than the other because he is more central in the composition. However, the shot also includes a bird's-eye view angle which makes both of the characters seem small. This makes them appear to be more at the same level to each other and therefore challenges the common stereotypes. This angle could also be used to suggest that both of these characters are vulnerable and are both suffering due to the disability.
Later on in the extract, when the boys are outside the school, the composition of the shots emphasises the difference between David and Ben immensely. The David can be seen in the foreground of the shot, near the centre, as the subject of the shot. Positioned behind him and appearing very small is the Ben. This suggests that the able bodied are much more important and significant to situations than the disabled. Having the Ben in the background also makes the audience have sympathy for him and empathise with his situation.

 A special effect is added to the shot of Ben riding his bike outside. A 'target' effect is used that reminds the audience of what can be seen through the eye-piece of a gun e.g. a rifle. This makes Ben seem very vulnerable and this may be suggesting how disabled people are perceived in society. This also may be foreshadowing the murder of Ben by David as David is the one holding the gun. It is also important to note that it is an able bodied person aiming a gun at a disabled person. This could be implying how disabled people are treated in society and how the disabled and abled react together- with the disabled going about their private business only to be 'shot down' by an able bodied person.
When the boys are all outside the school, the camera angles change many times, there are many shots and the pace is fast. This shows that life for a disabled person is very hectic and this created empathy from the audience as they are being shown what it is like in a disabled person's world. There are so many things going on at once and you don't know where to look or what to pay attention too. This makes it very confusing for the audience, as it would be for a disabled person.

Throughout the extract, there is a voiceover by David's character. The fact that it is the able bodied boy that the audience can hear makes his seem more important than the disabled character. The audience feel more connected to him as they have a greater insight into his thoughts and feelings than with any other character, including Ben. The audience is able to empathise with David more than they can with Ben- who also has much less dialogue than David.
When Ben is on the bus at the end of the extract there is lots of diegetic sound, non-diegetic music and also David's voiceover. With all of this sound for the audience to concentrate on, the audience is once again experiencing what it might be like to be disabled and in such a confusing world. It makes the audience empathise with Ben. However, even at the time when Ben is the subject of the shot and is the only main character in the scene, most of the audiences attention is still on David due to the voiceover he is providing during this scene.

At the start of the extract, in the first shot, the shot appears to be cut in half due to the use of Mise en Scene. Ben's half of the screen is very colourful and messy and David's side is very plain and boring. This could be suggesting that the life of a disabled person is much more messy and hectic than the life of a able person which may be more simple and monotonous. The added colour also adds a child-like feel to the disabled person and makes him seem more innocent and subsequently, more vulnerable.
There is also a use of props in the middle of the extract that are held or used by Ben and these props are toys. Seeing a teenager play with toys and also always fiddling with something emphasises the previous idea that disabled people can be child-like. David, on the other hand, uses more grown up and violent toys that mimic real objects that can cause harm- the gun. This could show how able bodied people are more capable of causing harm and being violent in a malicious way compared to disabled people.