Documentary Analysis 1

I am analyzing  5 minutes BBC documentary called "The Birth of Israel (2008)". Here, Jeremy Bowen presents a look back at the creation of the state of Israel, examining the events leading up to the Israeli war of Independence in 1949. (via youtube)

At the beginning of the scene, we can see a long shot of the sun setting and usually directors use this kind of shot to show the location. As the documentary is about a Israel we can hear a non diegetic sound of Israeli music at the background. Soon after the long shot scene blends to another medium long shot when the mosque is shown.

 In this picture, the editor has isolated the scene of mosque and it's surrounding. This can be seen by the difference of the color:color of  top of mosque as yellowish golden whereas rest are black and white. Now, medium close up of a city with close up shot  follows with a sign of crucifix. The editor uses the previous pattern to portray i.e  the color of crucifix yellowish golden. Altogether, the director shows the relationship between two different religion followed by the people of Israel and Palestine. The  non diegetic sound (voice over) from the background stating, "60 years ago Israel fought and won a war for it's independent for Palestine this was catastrophe", pause for a second "Two side have been fighting ever since" conveys us the message of deep differences between two countries.

After the scene, the effects on the video changes to holga-ish effect and even the music at the background changes to fast drum music following with the change of the background scene at fast pace. This time the editor provide us with pictures of bomb explosion, damaged buildings, army troops, guns, citizens and war. Here the editor has used black and white holga-ish effect for a few second scene because this documentary is about a Israeli war of Independence,1949. From this black and white effects he wants his audiences to know that these scene are from the past; of the war that Israel fought.  Long shot black and white picture of dead tree follows on the screen by the title of the documentary "The Birth of Israel". After the black and white long shot of the dead tree, the efftect changes to color. The scene cuts to blue sky and from there camera tilts down focusing on a long shot of a building. Here, the director has used a long shot of the building to show the location and the whole structure of the building. We can hear a diegetic sound of sea at the background. Now, the scene cuts to the close up shot of caged parrot. The camera person uses a depth of field to focus more on the caged bird rather than the surrounding. The camera focus pull and focuses on the man walking near the road. At the background, we can hear the voice over. Soon after this scene, we can see the clips of the  war that took place in Gaza. Here, in the scene, we can even see a medium long shot of the building. A smoke coming out of the building and blood on the floor which connotes  war. Soon after this scene, we can see a group of people in rally that connotes dissatisfaction of citizen  . We can even see a close up shot of blood which connotes death, fight and danger. We can even see a medium shot of the people taking at the stretcher  connotes the suffering of the citizens. The tracking shot of the trails of the blood to the dead body portrays the effect of the war and creates sympathy. The screen fades out to black and cuts to the scene of waving Israel flag which connotes  leadership. Now, the scene cuts to long, medium and close up shots of rocket fires and at the background we can still hear the non diegetic sound (Voice over). Within this scene, another scene blends in black. Again, the editor uses black and white to show his target audience that all the scences occured in the past. At the background, we can hear the non diegetic sound (voice over).  After few seconds, the non diegetic sound changes into diegetic sound (dialogue) where we can see a medium close up of the interviewee (Shimon Peres).

Again, a flag of Israel at the back which connotes interviewee must be from Israel. Again, the scene cuts to the black and white scene. This time, the voice over again changes into non diegetic sound. At the background, we can still see  a life of Palestinian farmer from so many backs ago. Soon after this black and white scene cuts to the interviewee (Hazem Nusseibeh) and the non diegetic voice over changes into diegetic sound (dialogue).