Wasp (Andrea Arnold, 2003) is a 26-minute short film about a single mother who prioritises her love life with an old contact over the safety and care of her four young children. Winning the 2004 Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, Wasp is a poignant social commentary on life within poverty-stricken council estates and the struggles of being a single parent.
Cinematography is used throughout the film as a subtle means of visual storytelling. Every shot of the film is extremely gritty and authentic – Arnold incorporates an array of uncomfortable closeups throughout, purposefully including obstructive objects within the frame. Through this, a sense of claustrophobia is created, especially during the pub scenes – mirroring Zoe’s hectic lifestyle. In addition to this, the film makes apt use of handheld cameras throughout, which instills further disorientation within the viewer.,
The film is entirely shot on location – a suburban council estate in Dartford – and natural lighting is incorporated throughout to add a further layer of realism to the film. Parallel editing is also utilised by Arnold to display Zoe and Dave in the pub together, while her four hungry children scavenge the streets for food. The performances by each actor, including the children, are highly authentic and believable.
I enjoyed Wasp and was moved by the bleak social realism it offered – it was clearly inspired by Arnold’s life experiences. The film also demonstrated to me the disorienting effect an array of handheld shots can have on the viewer.
Otis Morley’s A-Level Film Studies Blog 