Lion film analysis

Long explanation on the structure of the introduction

1.In this opening sentence/s, you need to explore the primary concern of the text. You can put things like text name, form, author and year in your first sentence; or you can put the text name and form in the first sentence, then author and year in the second.

2.Your second sentence should firstly explore the setting and context of the text, and secondly, the prompt, remembering to rephrase it (it should NOT be word for word).

Note: if you discussed the context/setting in your overview sentences, then you do not need to discuss it here.

3.In the last 2-3 sentences of your introduction, you need to indicate your stance/contention and the arguments that you plan to use to support this view.

 Keep in mind, these are IDEAS. They are NOT specific events or simply lists of characters!

 If you find yourself still doing this, think about what trait the character demonstrates or what big idea the event highlights

Short explanation on the structure of the introduction

Structure:

-Text information and overview of the main ideas in the film.

-Setting and context

-Summary of the text

-Contention

-Arguments

Short explanation of the structure of the body paragraph

-Topic sentence

-Evidence (Quote)

-Explanation

-Evidence (film technique)

-Explanation

-Linking sentence

Long explanation of the structure of the body paragraph

Topic Sentence: Introduce the main idea of the paragraph, focusing on a specific theme, character, or element you’re analysing in the film.

Evidence (Quote from the film): Embed a quote from the film to support your point. Use dialogue, key moments, or specific scenes.

Film Techniques: Analyse the film techniques used in the scene or moment. This could include camera angles, lighting, sound, or other cinematic techniques.

Explanation: Explain how the evidence and techniques connect to the larger themes or character development.

Link back to the prompt: Summarize how this paragraph contributes to your overall analysis or argument.

Types of Cinematography

Camera Angles and Shots (inc. Framing)

Term - What it means

Camera shots - How much of the scene or person we see. E.g. close-up, mid shot, wide shot.

Camera Angles - Where the camera is placed and how it looks at the subject. E.g. high, low, eye-level.

Framing - How things are placed in the shot. What’s in the centre? What’s in the background?

Types of Cinematography

Types of Camera Angles and Shots (inc. Framing)

Technique: What It Means. What it Shows/Why It's Used.

Close-Up: Shows a character’s face or a small detail. Shows emotion or draws attention to something important.

Mid Shot: Shows a character from the waist up. Good for conversations and body language.

Wide Shot: Shows the whole body or a large space. Shows setting or makes a character look small or alone.

High Angle: Camera looks down on the subject. Makes the character look weak, small, or powerless.

Low Angle: Camera looks up at the subject. Makes the character look strong, powerful, or important.

Eye-Level Angle: Camera is straight on with the subject. Feels natural and balanced — like real life.

Framing (Centre) - The character is placed in the middle of the shot. Shows importance, focus, or control.

Framing (Off-Centre) - The character is placed to one side of the shot. Can show isolation, imbalance, or tension.

Over-the-Shoulder Shot: Camera looks over a character’s shoulder at another person or object. Often used in conversations to show point of view.

Types of Cinematography

Lighting

-Lighting is how light is used in a scene. It helps create mood, show time of day, and highlight important parts of the story.

Lighting Type: What It Looks Like. What It Shows/Feels Like.

Natural Lighting: Soft, realistic light (e.g. sunlight, lamps). Feels real, calm, or warm.

Low-Key Lighting: Dark with strong shadows. Creates tension, mystery, or fear.

High-Key Lighting: Bright and even lighting. Feels happy, safe, or open.

Types of Cinematography

Sound

-Sound techniques in film refer to the ways sound is used to create atmosphere, convey emotion, and communicate meaning.

-This includes both what we hear (dialogue, music, effects) and how it’s used (volume, timing, layering).

Technique: Definition. Deeper Message or Effect.

Diegetic Sound: Sound that originates within the film world (e.g. footsteps, dialogue). Makes the world feel real and immersive.

Non-Diegetic Sound: Sound added for the audience (e.g. soundtrack, voice-over). Guides emotion or adds commentary.

Types of Cinematography

Mise-En-Scene

-Mise-en-scène is a French term meaning “placing on stage.”

-In film, it refers to everything that appears in the frame - including setting, lighting, costume, props, and actor behaviour - and how these elements are arranged to create meaning.

Element: Description. Deeper Message or Effect.

Setting: Location and environment of the scene. Establishes context, mood, or themes.

Costume & Makeup: Clothing, appearance, and styling of characters. Reveals character traits, status, or transformation.

Lighting: Use of light and shadow. Creates atmosphere, highlights emotion or tension.

Props: Objects used in the scene. Symbolise ideas, support realism, or drive plot.

Actor Expression & Movement: Facial expressions, gestures, and body language. Communicates emotion, relationships, or power dynamics.

Composition: How elements are arranged in the frame. Directs viewer focus, suggests meaning or imbalance.

Quotes

1. “You’ve come a long way, haven’t you, little one?”- Sue

2. “I’ll always listen. Always.”- Sue

3. “I want to run a hotel so that I can put all the profits in my pocket.”- Saroo

4. "I'm adopted, I'm not really Indian." – Saroo

5. "I had another family. A mother. A brother. I can still see their faces" – Saroo

6. “I’m not from Calcutta. I’m lost.” –Saroo

7. “I’ve been blessed. Very blessed.”- Sue

8. “Saroo knows everything. He’s an expert. He’s a manager.”- Mantosh

9. “Do you have any idea what it's like? How everyday my mother screams my name?” – Saroo

10. “I'm starting to remember a life I had forgotten.” – Saroo

11. “​​​​​​​I have to find my way back home.” - Saroo

12. "What if you do find home and they're not even there? Then you just keep searching?" – Lucy

13. Every night I imagine that I'm walking those streets home and I know every single step of the way, and I whisper in her ear, "I'm here." - Saroo

14. I'm sorry you couldn't have your own kids. – Saroo

15. We weren't blank pages, were we? Like your own would have been. You weren't just adopting us but our past as well. I feel like we're killing you. - Saroo

16. "We chose not to have kids. We wanted the two of you. That's what we wanted. We wanted the two of you in our lives. That's what we chose. That's one of the reasons I fell in love with your dad. Because we both felt as if... the world has enough people in it. Have a child, couldn't guarantee it will make anything better. But to take a child that's suffering like you boys were. Give you a chance in the world. That's something." - Sue

17. “Saroo, I really hope she’s there. She needs to see how beautiful you are.”- Sue

18. “I found home.”- Saroo

19. "Hi, mum. I know you will be sound asleep. I just want to say that I'm safe. Safe and all the questions have been answered. There are no more dead ends. I found my mother, and... she thanks you both for raising me. She understands that you are my family. She's... happy, just knowing I'm alive. I found her, but that doesn't change who you are. I love you mom... so much. And you, Dad. And Mantosh!" – Saroo

20. “No one came, no one helped.” – Saroo

21. “I want to run a hotel so that I can put all the profits in my pocket.” – Saroo

22. “I want to go home. Ganestalay.” – Young Saroo (in Hindi)

23. “Help me! Guddu! Someone save me!” – Young Saroo (on the train)

24. “I’m not Indian enough.” – Saroo

25. “We swan about our privileged lives. It makes me sick.” – Saroo

26. “My mum could not read or write… she carried rocks.” – Saroo

27. “The stars came out in search of the moon.” – Sung by Calcutta orphans

28. “People like us, we don’t get to have things.” – Guddu

29. “I always thought I could keep this family together. I need you, Saroo.” – Sue

30. “I always thought I’d come back.” - Saroo

31. “I’m not who I thought I was.” - Saroo

32. “I’ll be back before you wake up.”  - Guddu

Symbolism

Symbol:

Common symbolism

How it drives meaning in the film

 

Butterflies

-Innocence

-Freedom

-Transformation

-Purity

Saroo was portrayed as being an innocent child who later transformed into a strong and resilient man who was able to overcome adversity

 

Fork and Spoon

-Privilege

-Culture

-Access

-Wealth

The film highlights the disparity between the poor and the wealth through the use of cutlery. Saroo and his family were living in poverty and therefore didn’t use cutlery whereas Saroo's adoptive family used cutlery during their dinners.

 

Train tracks

-Journey

-Loss

-home

-Adventure

The train tracks represent Saroo's physical journey from his home, to Calcutta, the orphanage and then to Australia.

The train tracks also are representative of Saroo's journey back home.

 

Lion

-Brave/Bravery

-Strength

-Loyalty

Saroo's real name is Sheru, which means Lion

Saroo embodies the strength of a lion as he is able to navigate difficulties and survive.

Themes

Theme:

• Definition

-How it is shown in the film

 

Identity

• Personal

• Social

• Cultural

• Characteristics that make us who we are

-Saroo struggled with his cultural identity as he felt disconnected from his home country and culture and didn’t know where he was from.

-He didn’t feel totally Indian or totally Australian.

-Saroo was adopted so he didn’t feel connected to those around him.

 

Survival

• Continuing to live/exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances.

-Saroo escaped the kidnappers

-Saroo survived on the streets of India as a homeless child.

-Saroo was able to preserve and not give up of finding his family

 

Poverty/Privilege

• Poverty: When an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living.

• Privilege: A special right or advantage granted or available to a particular person or group.

-In India, Saroo's family could not afford an adequate amount of food to feed their family

-In Australia, Saroo had access to education, job, opportunities, food, shelter, and healthcare.

 

Family/Relationships

• Biological family, adoptive family

• Romantic relationships, friendships, self-love

-Just because you are not blood related doesn’t mean that you are not family. Saroo was able to build a strong bond with his adoptive family

-Saroo's friends has inspired him to find his family. This illustrates how our friends can guide us through difficult times.

-Saroo was able to survive difficult circumstances and feel a sense of belonging through the relationships with others.