"LouLou Lives Here" Caroline Robertson

This was a particularly interesting film, directed by Hazel Grian, with an intriguing storyline and a nice twist at the end. It keeps the viewers thinking after the film has finished. It shows some very interesting techniques, which makes it very difficult to fit into a certain genre. The closest genre I can fit it to would be a thriller due to the fast pace of the film, the tension building and the soundtrack.

The film is done in black and white, which I think has been done to add to the sinister almost frightening feel of the film, and also to make everything seem more dream like. One of the first shots we see is of a little girl lieing in the foetal position, but the shot is shakey and blurry, and this combined with a dark sinister soundtrack and helicopter folys in the background makes the audience ask questions. Why is she alone? Is she hurt? Is she lost?

The film then cuts to her walking down a path, so we know she is not injured, nor lost. We can hear the sounds of dogs barking in the background, and as the pace of the soundtrack quickens, so does the tension. There are many point of view shots as she looks up and see's birds, but they are quick cut shots, keeping the pace of the film relatively fast. The point of view shot of the scarecrow insinuates that maybe she is afraid, looking for things to scare her. This is again illustrated by the extreme close ups of the van which begins to follow her, and the audience again begin to feel afraid for her.

Is she going to be kidnapped? Various extreme close ups of her eyes depict her feer, and help to put the audience in her shoes as she begins to flee from the van. Heavy Breathing folys are used to again illustrate her fear, and it is reflected by the camera movement which begins to spin and blur, showing her panic as a man starts to grab for her.

Suddenly, the film twists and a dog runs away, and we see a sign saying "Lou Lou Lives Here" with a photo of the dog. With this ending the film, the whole idea behind the film switches, and the audience is left confused and shocked. I think that the director was telling the dogs story, and putting it in a little girls body because it is easier for a person to empathase with a child than with a dogs emotions.

Once you have seen the film, you realise there were many small clues indicating she was not a human throughout the film, such as at the start when she licks her knee, or on the way home when she stops to pick up a dead and bloody rabbit. Neither of these are particularly traits usual of a young girl, but as the film goes on and you watch for the first time you barely pick up on them. There is no narrative or dialogue, other than the man from the van speaking. I think this is to keep the intrigue and enigma of the film, and when the man speaks it is to emphasise how scary he is to her, as his voice has been edited to sound very low and slow.

I really liked all the point of view spinning and blurred shots, and the slowmotion blurred shots of the men and the dog struggling at the end. I think all of this captured the emotions felt by Lou Lou throughout the film and is something I would definately consider using if in my final piece it is appropriate.

I got some of my information from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476291/, although there was not much information about the film, which i think again keeps the mystery to it alive.