Coursework: Broadchurch Episode 1 Notes

Watch the episode on Youtube.

Notes from Episode 1:

What is the significance of the power cut/focus on the young girl hula hooping in slow motion/traffic?
-Power cut suggest a lifeline has ended. A circuit has broke. Connotations of family heartbreak.
-Hula hoop slowly falls to the ground, ends the circular motion and represents the slow collapse of normality.
-Traffic shows the chaos and congestion of Danny's murder. Shows the huge impact it has on the small, quiet town.

Editing: Slow motion running as Beth Latimer has a sudden realisation. Focus on heavy breathing (similar to Fish Tank).

Body discovered and shot in high key, natural lighting - a stark contrast to the gloomy, dark events that have just occurred.

Beth is screaming/crying and the non-diegetic music progressively louder until it drowns out and diegetic speech. Represents pain/anguish taking over the lives of the cast.

Iconography: police tape/white forensic suits/latex gloves

Typical representations of women present:
-DS Ellie Miller goes away for 3 weeks and has been replaced/lost out on a promotion by a man. 

Contrasts to stereotypical representations of women:
-The female protagonist drives the male protagonist on multiple occasions.
-Reporter Olly is docile and under the command of older reporter Maggie. The female takes charge and puts the male to shame.
-DS Miller is the only earner. She is the breadwinner while he husband stays at home and cares for the children. Role reversal.

Male stereotypes present:
-Mr. Latimer is a plumber, typical manual tradesman job. Only cries when he is away from his family, and focuses on reassuring his family when they are crying.

Long camera shot of family in their home, to create the illusion of observing from a distance. Giving privacy to the family during this hard time, but still peering in.

Camera hides behind grass and watches/spies on Mark Latimer.

DS Miller is humorous despite the events that have occurred. To DS Hardy: "I told him not to publish anything. He's a little shit"

Tom Miller (Ellie's son) deletes text messages and computer files - creates suspicion.

Reporter Karen removes a toy in memorial of Danny from the beach - she is so far, the only "villain" (referring to Vladimir Propp's character types theory) because we cannot speculate who is the killer yet. Character type could alter.

Episode ends with DS Hardy giving a television broadcast. The camera pans to show every cast member watching, via TV/computer/mobile, and Hardy's voice is loud and powerful. The message addresses everyone and lists the possible suspects for the audience.

No 'what happens next time' clip at the end. Even a bigger enigma code (Roland Barthes) because the audience has no insight into what will happen next and will be forced to watch again to find out.

Music over end credits is soothing and sinister. First time music has lyrics.