Analysis - My Dream/My Reality

• The clip begins with statistics about trafficking – there is silence as the information is loaded on the screen – with a plain black background and white writing all combined highlights the seriousness of the issue.

• Title of “My dream/My Reality” flickers whilst piano chords combined with the harsh sound of wind/noise play non digetically in the background– the flickering of the title highlights her life, a combination of her dreams vs the harsh reality that has come in the way. Also highlights how disturbed her dreams are due to being mentally/physically scared when trafficked.

• The contrast between using two different sets when in the ‘flat’ by having half of the trafficking scene set on stage with an audience watching then cutting to the actual room without the audience watching. This highlights how trafficking can be shown vs what it is actually like, conveying what she remembers of the experience (how real it was for her) and how we will never truly understand. The blank faced audience shown watching the story unfold, highlight how nothing is being done about this issue, we just ignore it. Yet she cannot ignore reality. 

• The calm non – digetic narration combined with the image of her in pain (silent screaming) is uncomfortable for us as a viewer as we cannot hear what’s actually going on in the room, only the calm narration and sound of music over the top whilst her pained facial expressions continue this causes the audience to become anxious and worked up as the audience in the film cannot see the full picture like we can. 

• The woman stares at herself in the mirror, due to the narration highlighting the current and image being the past it conveys the protagonist’s introspection as she stares into her future, like her hurt self is trapped in the mirror.  

• The comparison between the fast pace movement on the stage when talking about what happened leading up to her being taken suddenly changed when she is given the drink. As she takes a sip there is a jump cut to suddenly her falling to the ground then back to when she is stood up, highlighting how distorted her life became after and her falling to the ground symbolises how her life suddenly crumbled. Conveying the drastic change from her dream to sudden reality.

• When we watch the staged version of what happened, the colours on set are warm, orange and yellow lighting are used to highlight the set as a stage to remind the viewer that the staged version is what we imagine it to be like. Whereas, when showing reality in the actual room the colours of the room are blue and grey, to convey a cold atmosphere. When watching the staged version, the camera only faces front of stage (does not move around on stage) yet the real version set in the room changes, and begins with a close up of the protagonists quivering wrapped up body and then cuts quickly to a short lasting view of her in the actual room crying, making the viewer feel more uncomfortable and worried for her as the camera shots are on a more personal level.

• Both the audience and he actress in the staged version adopt blank facial expressions highlighting how the issue of trafficking is not taken seriously and is just used for entertainment purposes. Whereas when in the actual room you see her crying, sitting at the end of the bed tightly squeezing the sheet she is wrapped up in conveying how scared and vulnerable she is and highlighting the reality of the situation.