The Returned Flashcards
Genre
Zombie-thriller
Production company
Haut en court
Distribution company
Canal+
Based on
They came back (book)
Year
2012
Representation
bell hooks- only white people, Mr Costa burns white reflecting patriarchy
Van Zoonen- most female characters are sexualised through sex itself (Lena, Lucy) but Simon is also sexualised, many male characters are efficient (Simon) but Camille is also efficient breaking typical gender stereotypes
Key scene 1 - Mr and Mrs Costa
Mr Costa burning the house down, setting a flame the photographs and having Madame tied up to the bed next to the fire then a wide shot of the house burning down
- High angle shot of Madame Costa, being tied up and gagged creating her to appear vulnerable, with us being positioned behind the fire in the other room, making the audience feel guilty. The atypical response of Costa
- Soundtrack doesn’t fit the scene, contrapuntal sound, where we’d expect a dramatic soundtrack.
- Mundane response of Madame Costa
- Mr Costa is laid back as he burns everything to the ground as he feels he’s lost it
- Mise en scene is of an old person’s house.
Key scene 2 - Lucy’s stabbing
Serge stabs Lucy as she is walking home from the pub. She is stabbed in the stomach in an underpass. The high angle shots show her stab wound. There are lots of close-ups to show them together
Key scene 3 - The school trip
There is a flashback to Camille’s home before the trip. Camille and her parents leave and Lena’s boyfriend enters the house.
There is a high angle shot from the top of the bus showing Camille panicking and attempting to leave the bus panicking. Her teacher drags her back. There is a straight angle shot of Louis with a blank expression standing in the road. The bus driver then sees Louis in the middle of the road and swerves and falls off the cliff. The cyclical structure means a new equilibrium occurs
Primary audience
15+, fans of the zombie/horror genre
