Echo (2011), Lewis Arnold

Echo is a short film that focuses on a teenage girl who uses a phone call seemingly to con people, she pretends to be on the phone as the person on the other end tells her that her dad has had an accident and is in hospital. As the film develops it seems to suggest that this event really did occur and that she repeats it as a form of grief rather than for the money.

The director uses an interesting narrative structure for the film, as the name Echo suggests their is a use of repetition - the 'backbone' of the structure is three of these phone calls. The use of repetition in the short film format is a good technique as, strangely it allows the filmmaker to demonstrate variety; the fact that each repeat feels so different and the director progresses the story and character while repeating the same action/event is impressive and interesting for viewers.

the idea of repetition is also shown in the mise-en-scene, reinforcing it as a theme. The film repeats the use of the inside of the tram with a character (Caroline and the brother) leaning on the window and the image of the lighter are both repeated, and for me both suggest something about the character. The lighter and smoking reflect the teenage rebellious archetype but also suggest some sort of coping mechanism - we see her smoking when she is alone and distant from her family, she smokes instead of relying on them. The leaning on the window image is repeated but by different characters which I think showed, while they try to separate themselves Caroline and her brother are very similar.
Most of what I will take from this film was actually from the behind the scenes interview with the filmmaker. In particular  how he and his team developed the narrative from a real life event and how it changed many times throughout.