Cubs

Cubs is a 10 minute short film directed by tom Harper, the location is based in south London and the story takes place on a council estate and the urban surroundings, from the beginning strong connotations of London gang culture is used via clothes and dialogue although the storyline holds a different narrative and plot to what the audience might think. The synopsis of the film says “A boy tries to join a gang of inner-city kids, but learns that initiation comes at a price” and other viewers may see it as filming the issue of gang culture in another perspective but I believe the director held more meaning for the film than just that by directing the film towards class and mob mentality.

The film starts off with the protagonist Ben sitting anticipating something to happen, at this point the audience are unaware of what it could be. Whilst waiting a girl sitting next to Ben claims she is cold and we see kind characteristics from Ben as he offers his gloves, I think this opening moment is key as it shows the characteristics and feelings towards Ben that are lost due to his later actions. The film continues and conversation about being selected between the pair starts, the audience still in the dark about what it is being anticipated may be drawn towards the idea of being selected in to a team as football is being played in the background but later shots of the character Karl, an older character wearing fashionable street wear and portrayed as being very respected walking into the playground will later change the audiences views to being selected into a gang. Everybody in the playground gathers into a neat group with Karl’s presence including Ben and his friend, a few of the group try to communicate with Karl but all greetings are thrown back with abuse that is all except Bens which instead is responded with a nod. This shows that they may have background a relationship unknown yet. After Karl selects the biggest male of the group he walks back out of the playground with the boy looking surprised and happy with being selected, Ben stands disappointed and snaps at his friend as she says ”told you he wouldn’t pick us” but decides to take matters into his own hands, he peruses Karl and calls him with Karl’s reaction being the same abusive reply “What!” that is until he realises who it is, then his mood changes therefore proving the fact that there is a back story between the pair. Ben asks for another chance to be accepted and surprisingly Karl says yes.
The second part of the film is shot at night, as the sun settles things for the gang become more interesting with the group growing bigger and bigger and drugs and alcohol being consumed, along with the overheard conversation it is quite clear that the gang are preparing for something and are building g up excitement, here the anticipation from the beginning comes back. Karl joins the gang with two fierce pit bulls and approaches Ben handing him a weapon and saying “make sure you don’t get nicked like your brother”, revealing the relationship between the pair, Karl was Bens brothers close friend. Soon the gang regroup as one and the leader Karl shouts “let’s go hunting as he fires a pistol” the gang’s plans become clear as they head through the woods, they are participating in a new urban sport...fox hunting. This point of the short film change the message behind the film completely for me, giving reason and metaphors to the title and making the film much about class as about gangs. Through my eyes this is fox hunting, a sport which after huge debate and protesting was made illegal being participated in by the opposite class to whom started it the lower and working class. Exchanging horses for bikes, hounds for pit bulls and rifles for cricket bats and pistols the gang pursue a fox through urban surroundings with quick camera cuts and movement along with both tension building digetic and non digetic sound being used to change the pace of the film and raise the tempo. When the fox is first caught at a dead end Ben misses the chance to kill it provoking the rest of the group especially Karl, the group carry on searching and Ben once again spots the fox this time for a few seconds the fox and Ben exchange glances and we can tell from facial expressions that Ben is debating in his head whether or not to inform the rest of the group, with the mob mentality and adrenaline from the chase still running through Bens body he yells “this way come quick” and the pursuit continues this time resulting with the fox being violently attacked by the pit bulls, as the dogs are pulled away and the fox is crippled Karl hands Ben the gun, at this point it is less adrenaline and more peer pressure making bens decisions for him, the only one not edging him on is his friend she silently stands next to Ben clearly realising this is wrong. Once again sound and shots speed up till Ben closes his eyes and pulls the trigger making a difficult but purposeful decision.

The final shots of the film first see Bens friend returning the gloves he gave her at the beginning and leaving due to seeing a side to Ben she did not like, the second shows Ben being accepted into the gang, after congratulated for the killing he stands looking down at the ground coming to terms with the actions he has just committed, the crowds voices drown out and Ben faces to the camera breaking the fourth wall and maintain a strong eye connection with the audience. I found this shot to be particularly powerful and for me concluded a story in which asked its audience at what class does fox hunting become okay, whether on bikes or horses with guns or cricket bats it is still the same sport, the same mob mentality, the same moral.