Representation of age

The first shot in this clip is an over shoulder, low angle shot. The mis-en-scene denotes the younger man looking up at the judge, which connotes the judge has more power and status than the young man. Here, youth is being represented as being vulnerable and obtaining less power than those of older age. In this same shot, the mis-en-scene also denotes two bodyguards standing on either side of the young man, who is sitting down. This difference in height again represents how much power is obtained, and the idea of younger people lacking power is reinforced. A medium, low angled close up of the young man enables us to see his facial expression. He holds his head low and avoids eye contact with the judge. From this, youth is being associated with wrong doing, and rebelling against the law as the man's body language and expressions imply he is guilty. The editing is very slow, which emphasises the slow pace in which the young man is answering the judges questions. The shots of the young man slowly zoom in so that we are able to focus on his reactions. When the judge is shown, in contrast to the young man, he is filmed using a high angle, which establishes his power and status in the courtroom. He looks down at the young man, which represents people of older age as again having power over younger people. During this shot reverse shot the diegetic sound of both the judge and the young man talking show us a difference in terminology between the two ages. The judge speaks very loudly and confidently, and his sentences are long are complex, for example when he says "the removal and concealment of the knife..." and "...a cold blooded, calculated attempt to get rid of deeply incriminating evidence." On the other hand, the young man speaks quietly, and speaks using simple and more understandable terminology for example when he innocently says "I didn't know what I was doing".  Here, people of older age are being associated with articulate speech, in comparison to young people, being associated with simple, less complicated speech.

A medium shot of the young man enables us to see his upset expression as he admits to dropping out of university. Here, young people are being represented as not being hardworking, and not thinking about their future, which relates to the common perception that young people are 'drop outs'. The disappointed expressions on the audience's faces shown in a medium shot reinforce the idea that this sort of behaviour is wrong, and therefore a negative representation of young individuals has been created. During this sequence, another judge is shown who is a lot younger is shown in both a medium shot and a close up, which allows us to see her facial expression. She looks at the young man in a caring way, rather than a disappointed or angry way as he admits he dropped out of uni 7 months ago. She seems to be able to connect to the man more than the older judge, as she may be able to emphasise with him, being a similar age. This whole part of the scene represents older people as maybe being old fashioned in the way they think, as the judge and the relatively old members of the audience frown upon the idea of the young man dropping out of uni. On the other hand, younger people, around 30, are being represented as being able to understand and empathise easily with each other, and young people are being shown as being more caring. This younger judge is shown again at the end of the clip. She speaks in a calm tone and in simple terms when she says "you've been in the witness box for a very long time." "...everything about you tested and tested" which significantly contrasts against the disapproving tone and complex vocabulary used by the older judge. This again, shows the difference between the speech of older and younger people, but also presents the younger judge as being more caring and considerate towards the young man. Her sighs connote her sadness and empathy towards him, and this again represents young people as being able to empathise and understand each other, and represents adults as being caring towards youths.

Towards the end of the scene, uncomfortable, mysterious non-diagetic music is introduced, as the judge begins to ask the young man more serious questions about the case. This music represents how the young man is feeling scared and axious, which his body language implies. A medium shot denotes him wiping tears from his eyes and holding his head down. Here young people are represented as vulnerable and emotional, but also as deviant, as this body language connotes the young man is guilty. As the music becomes more intense and significant, a high angle close up is shown of the young man which slowly zooms in. He lays his head on the desk and lifts his hands up as the judge asks him questions, as if to protect himself from the older judge who has had the power to reduce him to tears. This as well as the high angle shot, again significantly reinforces the idea of the judge obtaining more power than the young man, and therefore represents older people as having power over their youths. The last shot shows a high angle reaction shot of the young man, after being asked if he committed the murder. The long pause, combined with the intense music and the mans anxious expression shown as tears fall down his face all indicate that he committed the crime. Here, young people are being represented as deviant, but as the long take of the close up reaction shot allows us to connect with the man, we can see he is very emotional and vulnerable, associating young people with these qualities. This last shot of the distressed, emotional man slowly fades out. As the shot lingers, the importance of the image is emphasised, and left on a cliff hanger.