On the tip of my tongue....
Dialogue: A vital element of the film
The Black Balloon
Dialogue is more than just a “Hello, how are you.” Dialogue reveals conflicts and causes a reaction. The importance of communication in the film ‘The Black Balloon’ demonstrates to the audience how each character interacts. Throughout the movie most talking turned into fighting. Dialogue was able to give the audience an understanding of what each character was capable of saying, whether it was sign language or not.
Lack of Dialogue:
In some cases actions speak louder than words. The lack of dialogue in some instances proves to be the most alluring. Charlie was the center of attention because of his autism. Communication in the film, gave important impressions on how each character chose to react to one another. The way Charlie communicates with his family is through sign language. The lack of dialogue in scenes demonstrated how Charlie interacted with people around him. Charlie illustrates how his life with autism causes him to have very few words to say; in some cases it frustrates Thomas in ways where he feels isolated and alone. ‘Dad, do you ever wish that Charlie was normal?’ Charlie’s unspoken words means that he can’t connect with the outside world and his family, it frustrates his brother the most. The scene where Thomas teaches Charlie to learn the word ‘monkey’ shows to the audience how immensely Thomas wants his brother to be normal, for his family to be normal and for his life to be normal. It also gives a sense of shame, implying that Thomas would prefer a brother who is able to communicate and who is able to be normal. “…Charlie is Charlie.”
Charlie’s life is surrounded by people who have things done for him, and he communicates with others through sign language. Thomas feels undermined and although he can do all sorts of day to day chores and activities like everyone else, he portrays to be the character who craves the attention the most. The scene in which demonstrates this is when Thomas’ asks for milk at breakfast and soon is interrupted by Charlie’s outburst.
The Mollison’s have a tough job, dealing with Charlie and dealing with the new baby on the way. They have a delicate relationship and because of that, it starts to defect the way they talk to one another. Thomas has plenty to say about Charlie. “He’s not my responsibility!” It creates tension between Maggie and him, which causes them to yell and argue more whereas Maggie has an unconditional love towards Charlie, regardless of his disability. She rewards him with stars and congratulates and appreciates him more than anyone else, despite the fact that it’s a motherly thing to do.
Dialogue helps to tell a story, and in this occasion, it is the Mollison’s. Communication is the connection of people interacting. Dialogue is faster than any other narrative. It is a function of character, and soon becomes part of that character. It is used to describe how each person feels, acts, thinks, does and what they have to say. In the Mollison’s household, dialogue is exemplified to attack or to be polite to one another. Dialogue is used to create conflict and it slowly depicts the life of everyone in the family. Dialogue in many scenes causes friction. In some cases, it is used for sincerity. Dialogue keeps people attracted to what they are watching, it can help people relate and can cause people to disagree against what a character is saying.
Defects of dialogue in the real world:
Underneath all the work and stress that comes with a child who has autism is the outside world, the world where people judge without knowing who you are. It proves to be an unjust environment for someone who has a disability. In some instances Charlie is verbally abused, the scene that reveals Charlie being picked on is when Charlie is caught in a fight where boys from Thomas’ school start to harass and torment Charlie.
Reflection:
The reason I chose the pictures for Dialogue is because of the contrast they show. They have a variety of meanings, and in this case it is for communicating with people. The pictures portray to the audience how dialogue is shown and how the characters in the picture are talking to someone, or begging to someone, or apologising to someone. I chose those specific pictures because they exemplify how each character communicates to that specific character, how they interact and show their emotions to one another. The pictures show the audience and to the reader how each personality comes through the way they talk.
Charlie, Thomas and Monkey
In this scene, Thomas teaches Charlie how to say the word ‘monkey.’ Dialogue in this scene shows the audience how desperately Thomas wants Charlie to learn and how to pronounce the word monkey. Dialogue in this picture exemplifies how Thomas craves for a normal brother, someone who he can introduce as normal, and someone he can showcase as his normal brother.
Is it too late to apologise?
Thomas and Charlie apologises in this scene to one another, after the dispute of them physically hurting each other. There are no words in this scene, and this scene proves to be the most capturing, the sound of emptiness that surrounds them, puts a focal point on Charlie and Thomas apologising.
'Please Charlie'
Charlie throws a tantrum in the supermarket; he starts to panic and starts to flare-up. Simon tries to soothe him in repeating his name and Thomas keeps begging: “Charlie, please, please, I know, Charlie.” People start to stare, and Thomas continues to chant to Charlie, begging him, trying to soothe him out of his tantrum. Dialogue in this scene demonstrates a child with autism and how they start to crack.