Representation of Ethnicity

Hotel Babylon

Contrast in lobby and back of hotel

✦ Parallel editing between front and back of hotel emphasizes the costumes and set design. E.g the workers in the lobby are wearing suits whilst the workers in the back are wearing causal work clothes.

✦ In the room, the woman in charge stood out against the workers as it was more professional.

✦ Parallel editing between Abraham and rest of migrants emphasized the difference is sound. This showed how hidden the migrants were.

Close-up shots✦ High-angle shots between the slits of

the elevator, producing a prison image✦ The close-ups in the room conveys

claustrophobia, creating more a prison atmosphere, contrasting to the spacious area in the front.

✦ ‘Staff Only’ close-up on door of small room. It emphasized how the small room was a form of protection for the migrants.

Panning ✦ The panning across the kitchen was at

a high speed and seemed out of control. This emphasized the panic and chaos of the situation they were in.

✦ Panning across the room where the migrants were eating was able to emphasize the different mannerisms between the ethnicities e.g. the Russian people and the African people.

Tilts✦ The tilt shot at 3:04 down to the

vacuum after Abraham has been taken away shows an inactive appliance. It emphasized how his presence is required and how he is a hard-working, important member of staff.

✦ It is placing a positive migrant on Abraham as a migrant.

Fast-paced cuts✦ The fast-paced cut from 1:24 to 1:26

presents an edging danger. It shows that although the people are running further away from the danger, it is still getting closer towards them. This emphasized the power of the Officer and the vulnerability of the migrants.

Eye-Line Match✦ The eye-line match at 0:50 is able to

show the Immigration Officers has picked up on the code between the two staff members. It shows that this is typical behavior in this situation. He has power through his knowledge, further making the immigrants look vulnerable, and him as superior.

Ending Clips✦ In the end, we see through a pan shot that

the white migrant people sit at one table and the black migrant people at another table.

✦ The white people seem to be relaxed and comfortable whilst the black people are distraught and praying, probably for Abraham.

✦ This shows that racial tension exits even between the migrants, though they are united by the common fear of the Immigrations Officer.

✦ This shows the power of the migrants officer, as he brings the ethnicity together.

Locker Shots✦ In the end, we see a mid-shot 5 of the

staff members. The manager is closer to the camera than the other staff members, creating a range of positions that upset about Abraham’s locker being cleared up.

✦ It shows a range of respect for ethnicity in the hotel.

Eye-line shot ✦ There is an eye-line shot where two of the

migrants are looking at the manager. ✦ It creates a sense of tension between the

different positions within the hotel.✦ It is suggesting the anger of the workers

as they may be angry at the fact that more could’ve been done.

✦ This relates back to when the manager says, ‘He’ll be fine’ about Abraham. This exposes complacency and could insinuate lack of protection for the migrants.