Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception) is now a major Hollywood director and this 1997 short short film, Doodlebug, displays the darker tone that would serve him so well in his later, feature film career. The story consists of a somewhat ratty man, in a much rattier flat. There, he seems intent - and possibly even driven to insanity -with catching the doodlebug of the film's title. However, after over two minutes of cat-and-mouse chasing, it is revealed that the bug resembles a miniature version of himself. He squashes the bug with his shoe. The audience comes to realise that every move that the doodlebug makes the man reciprocates a second later. Into this Kafkaesque situation enters a large face, that of the man; thereby making the man the doodlebug, and he proceeds to get squashed by this newer being.
Mise en Scene
- The whole short film is in grayscale rather than full colour possibly to show how the character's life is dull and uninteresting
- Ratty, disgusting apartment
Camera Angle and Movement
- Numerous extreme and big close-up shots of objects in his apartment mainly ticking clocks implying he's in a hurry or that he is anxious about something which is also hinted at through his actions and general mannerisms
- Low angle shot as we see something run across the floor which is matched when he, too realizes it
- Close-up on the phone as it rings, disrupting his 'mission'
- The camera is shaking slightly throughout to indicate he is not of a sound mind
Sound
- Hyper diegetic clock ticking and phone ringing show his senses are heightened
- Ominous, surreal music which establishes the character's feeling
- Diegetic noise of the phone being put in the pitcher of water
- No dialogue to emphasise the man's loneliness
Editing
- Image is blurred maybe to indicate how crazy this bug thing being in this apartment is making him but it may be to show that this guy is in a weird dream-like state
- Short-takes to show the character's craziness
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