Road Rage Film Analysis

Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Good Morning/Afternoon Mr. Nowiki and class. Mark Bellamy’s 2007 short film Road Rage explores how discoveries can be prompted by a desire for insight. This notion of discovery is explored through the lens of the protagonist, Paul Kelman, a motorist who re-evaluates his over reaction to the small things in life.
The film opens in an early morning scene on a road where a series of long shots of a modern urban environment forms a montage which slowly transitions into a close up shot of Kelman’s car. This creates the setting and enables the viewer to feel the chaotic and frenetic morning atmosphere. A chase scene of the car accentuates the complex nature of decency in the 21st century. This is strengthened by the constant Dutch tilts to implicitly denote that the complexity of morality can be an aspect which can limit an individual to explore new worlds. It also creates tension, making the viewer feel uneasy. Moreover, Bellamy uses dull colours to create a sense of boredom. This

is supported by Paul constantly changing the radio with excessive force of the hand. An interruption to Paul’s self-absorbed and obsessive compulsive routine becomes a platform for him to discover what an insignificant passer-by is going through. This is supported through the hand gesture of stop which reminds the protagonist to stop and reflect in order to discover.
Later in the film, the close-up shot of the protagonists face exemplifies his feelings on a busy morning.

It also enables the viewer to view the film from his perspective. This then transitions to a low angle shot of the environment to emphasise the symbolic power of the sky. The sky, shown through a low angle shot is a symbol of the endless discoveries an individual can make or find just like the sky is endless and limitless. Bellamy does this purposefully to emphasise and foreshadow that any individual is not bound to anything in order to make discoveries and compare the protagonist with the sky. By examining the sky, the protagonist discerns that no individual is immune from life’s problems and to overcome this, we need to help each other and form a common fellowship. Moreover, the protagonist also unveils that discoveries can be confronting and provocative which may affect their daily

routine.
Ultimately, like Gandhi said, Bellamy coveys the idea of discovery through both emotionally and socially by Paul ‘losing himself in the service of others’ through his employment of short film.