Textual Analysis: The Women in Black

This film starts with the logo of the production studio's, here we see CBS films, Crook Creek productions. After seeing all of the companies involved with the production of this film, we switch to a close up shot of a tea pot pouring into a tea cup. However this tea pot is empty, and they are giving the tea pots to little dolls, so we get an idea of what kind of age group we are going to be seeing, and we expect a little girl to be playing with dolls. Whilst this scene is happening, there is non-diegetic, child like music, that also has dark and sinister undertones to it. This music creates tension, and makes the audience on edge, as they don't want anything to happen to these young innocent girls.


We then are shown a medium shot of the three young girls playing innocently on the floor with their dolls, this shot reveals their innocence and how pure they are. The three young girls, have no makeup on and little bows in their hair, again revealing their innocence. A close up shot is then shown of one of the girls brushing a little dolls hair, we then see another girl tucking her little doll into her pram, revealing her caring nature. This shot is followed by another close up shot where the girls appear to be happy; smiling and laughing away, revealing how much happiness playing with their dolls brings them. The final girl is then seen in a close up shot with match on action, as she puts the teacup on its saucer.


We then see a medium long shot as all the girls mysteriously all look up to the camera at the same tine, implying that the girls have seen something out of the ordinary which has grabbed their attention. Their faces are blank and distant almost as if they are miles away in a trance, there is also a sense of fear that we recieve from the girls faces, again impting that something could happen to the girls, again putting the audience on edge. We then see a large window behind the girls, these windows are very big and they foreshadow the imminant future for these girls, and it forces the audience to think the worst. 


Moreover, we then see a closeup shot, to reveal the girl unlocking and opening the window. This confirms the audiences suspicions about what the girls are going to do, as the music gets even more dramatic, implying that something incredibly dark and horrible is about to happen. The window being unlocked also represents danger as the girls are no longer protected by the glass or the lock that would stop them from falling to their deaths. A mid shot is then used to show the girls step up onto the edge of the window. At first, their is no movement - suggesting to the audience and allowing them to hope that something will stop these girls from their horrendous fate. However, the audience's hope is short lived as the girls jump out the window to their deaths almost in unison. The music gets louder and the childlike aspect of it disappears, exaggerating the idea that the young girls ending their own lives is horrific and disturbing. The music then fades out as the shot remains locked on the window before a scream from a woman can be heard of "my babies!".

Lastly, we then see a close up of one the china doll's face as it stares out of shot, its expression shocked, echoing that of the audience.