Impasse from Reel 13 on Vimeo.
I came upon this video while I was looking through the whole of the microaggression blog. This caught my eye for its simple yet profound message. I won't give it away, but the ending was sort of predictable. What is your take on this video and the point that it's trying to get across? Does it make enough of an impact? Could it go farther, or in a different direction?
I would disagree that the ending was predictable. In fact, until the end it seemed as if both the man and woman seemed slightly interested in one another. I can't exactly pinpoint what the message was... perhaps that microaggression can occur in incredibly subtle circumstances. However, given the circumstances, the man (with the emblazoned Swastika tattoo on the back of his neck) actually seemed to be very polite towards this woman, even after her perfume accidentally spilled on him. He didn't demonstrate any acts of hatred... although once we encounter the end we start to rethink his open stares at her... what was he actually thinking? Was he nervous that she might do something... and what would that something have even been?
I think the lack of dialogue in the video was effective because it captured a moment that could occur in everyday life, however the message lacked because of it and left me hanging as an audience member.
I'm curious to know what your take on the video was? What made the message so profound?
I only found the ending predictable based off of the surrounding circumstances. The fact that we are having a discussion about race and racism clued me in. As did the website where I found the video; the microaggression blog. With this in mind, I knew - or should I say I came to suspect - that the video would deal with stereotypes and the like. So from the first moment I saw the shaven head of the white man, I assumed that he was a white supremacist. The majority of the clip was still a mystery as to how it would unfold, but I expected at some point that the swastika would come into view.
Yes, the two of them were obviously into each other and I think that's part of the message. For me, what I got out of it was how stupid and unnecessary the whole idea of blatant racism is. The man had a set of beliefs ingrained into him, but the fact remained that he was still human, and therefore has an ever changing mind. It doesn't matter how set in your ideals you are, something can always knock you on your ass. The whole time that the man glanced at the woman, all I could see was an ernest interest in her as a female; not some subtle malice towards her skin color.
I agree, I think the lack of dialogue was very effective. The silence adds a lot to the piece, lending the improbability of the scene a bit of realism. Also, I'm not sure if there needs to be a concrete message, as long as people are discussing the themes it touches on - I'd say the video did its job.