Option A, Finding The Frame is a piece of writing about how in a film “every shot counts no matter how inconsequential it may seem”. This idea is explored in the opening four minutes of the film Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig, 2017). The sequence is split into three parts but each individual shot has a purpose.
Part 1: The hotel
This part of the sequence begins with a title card only containing a single quote; “anybody who talks about California hedonism has never spent a Christmas in Sacramento”. This was said by John Didion, a feminist journalist who foreshadows the struggles that Lady Bird suffers through as she embarks on her journey to adulthood.
There is a fade to black, followed by a bird’s eye view of a two shot of Lady Bird and her mother, laying in bed together. They have similar night clothes, similar hair, and are laid in similar positions. They are almost looking eye to eye and the rhythm of their breathing is synchronised in order to illustrate them as equals. The camera lingers on them to show the importance of the connection between them and they take up the same amount of space to suggest this connection is mutual.
There is then a sound bridge, specifically a J cut, which overlays the dialogue but remains on the character’s faces. Lady Bird asks a question about her identity, a theme which lies at the heart of the narrative. This shows how Lady Bird is always questioning herself. Whilst this is happening, the mother is making the bed. Both of these actions are stereotypical of their generation.
Lady Bird and her mother move in synch to the bed, where they are silhouetted against the window. There is an emphasis on how similar they are, making their connection clear to the audience. This wide shot is followed by another J cut of an audio book. The sequence ends with the diegetic story about a mother nursing her dying child, a parallel of Lady Bird’s and her mother’s relationship.
Part 2: The car journey
The second sequence begins with a wide, low, point of view shot as the car moves. The journey is a metaphor. It is long and slow, just like Lady Bird’s journey to adulthood.
It cuts to a two shot through the windscreen of the characters. The non diegetic book ends and there is a moment of calm (before the storm). The narrative has visually moved them and they are equal. This is also shown by their equal dominance of the frame.
There next two shots are shown in profile and the 180 degree rule is broken. This metaphor reflects the disharmony between the characters and represents the ending of the peace. The conflict is continued when a simple gesture from Lady Bird, her trying to turn the music on, triggers her mother and starts a chain of events.
The car turns and mirrors the change in their conversation as it becomes an argument. This is also shown by their voices growing louder and more aggressive.
Throughout the sequence, Lady Bird spends more time on the screen. There are multiple parts where we hear the mother speaking but the camera remains on Lady Bird. This shows how she is the centre and focus in the film.
As the argument intensifies, the two characters look at each other less and less. This shows how the argument is causing them to become more distant.
Part 2 ends with a final wider profile shot if Lady Bird opening the car door and throwing herself out of it. This dramatic and childish moment marks the beginning of multiple mistakes that she will make in order to harm and spite her mother.
Part 3: The school
The third part cuts from a close up of the mother screaming to a neon pick cast. There is f*ck you mom written upside down on it as thought it is from Lady Bird’s perspective. The cast is pink, a stereotypically feminine colour however it is garish and stands out. This reflects her personality as well as the next shot where everyone is doing a religious gesture apart from her.
The film ends with a title card, the gothic font contrasts the catholic school in the background. The juxtaposition also represents her as she wants to stand out. As the montage of the school plays out, there are various short clips of her school life which is very traditional and strict but we see shots of Lady Bird not fitting in to her environment showing she is on her own.