The Selfish Giant
by Clio Barnard
The Selfish Giant is a film based in Bradford which follows the life of thirteen year old Arbor who has ADHD, which causes the outbursts of anger and frustration he experiences. He is living in a broken home, his mother trying to support him and his brother the best she can, but struggling to do so. His brother is involved in illegal activities meaning Arbor lacks a paternal role model, which is why I assume he likes spending so much time with his best friend Swifty. Swifty has a big family meaning they also face financial troubles, and his mother seems to be suffering from depression. Arbor and Swifty are excluded from school, Arbor already being at risk due to behaviour in lesson convinces Swifty to fight another student. This leaves them outcasts in their own area and others there age. Due to his mother's struggle to fund the family, Arbor is in need of money. Arbor believes that by working for a scrap dealer he and Swifty can make a fortune. They meet a man known as Kitten, and start to collect scrap for him. Kitten is also involved in racing horses. Swifty has a natural way with horses causing Arbor to be jealous of Kitten favouring Swifty over him. Arbor tries to impress Kitten but fails causing a wedge between Arbor and Swifty as his jealousy increases. Arbor decides to start selling scrap to two dealers, which ends up backfiring leading to a threat from Kitten to steal an electric transmission wire to make up for his loss. Arbor and Swifty in an attempt to rush due to police nearby they forget about the dangers of electricity and Swifty is electrocuted. Arbor enters a deep sadness and shuts everyone out as a result of the loss of his best friend. He only tries to talk to Swifty's mum but is rejected many times, until finally she lets him grieve with her. Arbor took care of the horse Swifty loved to try and feel in touch with him.
Who is the target audience?
The Selfish Giant is mainly targeting teens to young adults as that is the main age group included in the film, also older people may not appeal to the themes or language used. The film is mainly aimed in the UK, as it is set in Bradford and also people of a white race as it does not explore other cultures. I think the film is aimed at boys or men as there is a predominantly male cast. Their interests would be independent and realist films. They would prefer real life, relatable themes with a more obvious and harsh representation.
The Lone Ranger
by Gore Verbinski
The story follows the story of John Reid and Tonto and their experience trying to avenge John's brother and involves the classic features of a Cowboy and Indian storyline and the building of the transcontinental railway. The Lone Ranger is a film based on Native Americans and Cowboys in Texas. The story follows the story of John Reid and Tonto and their experience trying to avenge John's brother and involves the classic features of a Cowboy and Indian storyline with outlaw characters and the building of the transcontinental railway. The film starts in the 1930s where a young boy dressed like the Lone Ranger, meets Tonto, a Native American who tells him about his experiences with him. It then cuts back in time to 1869 in Colby, Texas. The character is travelling home by train on the developing railroad unaware of outlaw Butch Cavendish an outlaw also travelling on the same train after being caught by John's brother. His gang rescues him, allowing him to escape and John is made a Texas Ranger also to go after Cavendish and his gang. Cavendish kills all the rangers accept for John. The character Tonto buries all the dead bodies. Tonto tells John that he cannot be killed in battle and that one of his brother's Rangers, known as Collins had betrayed him and was working for Butch Cavendish. John is known to be dead by the gang so wears a mask to protect his identity and Tonto gives him a bullet made of the dead Ranger's badges, which he is to kill Cavendish with. Cavendish abducts John's brother's wife and son and Collins attempts to rescue them but is shot. A character called Cole is in charge of the building of railroads and prepares an attack on Native Americans. A tribe captures John and Tonto, and tell John of Tonto's past. Tonto and John escape whilst an attack occurs and finds and captures Cavendish at the silver mine. Returning Cavendish to Cole's custody it is found that Cole is Cavendish's partner and brother. John is taken back to the silver mine to be executed but Tonto rescues him. John's brother's wife and son are rescued and after a chase and fight, Cavendish and Cole are killed. A law enforcement position is offered to John since the town view him as a hero but he declines. It then cuts back to 1933 where the young boy believes the story to be a lie but Tonto gives him the silver bullet and tells him to decide himself.
Who is the target audience?
The Lone Ranger targets a wider audience of most ages, however it has some inappropriate scenes (brothel) but it is not covered explicitly. The film is mainly aimed at males, as again it is a predominantly male cast and younger boys seem to enjoy the themes of cowboys and Indians more than girls. However it is much more suitable for a family audience even though it contains Native American and Cowboy conflicts. Due to the popularity of Disney films among families the film is targeted at all. The target audience's interests consist of mainstream films like other Disney films, Wild West themed films and light-hearted action films.
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