The film Different portrays the quaint and wholesome story of a girl who walks past the same park bench each day in hopes of conveying her feelings of affection toward the boy who sits there daily. However, they both start out as distant strangers, and through the repetitive patterns and nature of the film, we (and the characters) find out that they both have some form of health problem (physiological disability).The film “The Kid” depicts a supernatural child and woman running away from a group of men who want to kidnap the child, in a very dusky and dystopian-like adventure setting.

The most glaring difference in the two films is their styles and film techniques. The film “The Kid” takes an almost dystopian, dusky, and action-like style whereas the film “Different” took a more “realistic” style and portrays meaning in a more jovial and uplifting manner. There are several ways in which the difference is evident, and these different styles help to reveal/communicate the insights and meaning of the films in striking and intentional manners. First of all, the music in The Kid is very eerie and suspenseful, and is actually the main means through which the mood of the situation is initially established and the audience is able to gauge the nature of the situation, as what can be seen of the film itself is vague and rushed (the chase scene). The high  fast paced drum beats and intensified sound effects for aspects such as drawing out of the knife help illustrate the intensity and the seriousness of the events taking place on-screen. In contrast, the music in the film “Different” is far more lighthearted yet somber and sad, as demonstrated by the light/soft piano notes and the gentle guitar strums which add to it. In this way, the music in the film contributes to the mood of young love and romance, but adds a layer of sadness and sombreness which hints at the flaws or “imperfections” of these two individuals and their budding relationship, despite the otherwise light nature of this film. Therefore, whilst the types of music in both films is immensely different with respect to the different storylines and meanings, they both help to contribute to the audience’s perception of the film by establishing a mood that foreshadows to later in the film or alludes to the underlying intensity that may not be present in solely what can be seen. In connection, the use of dialogue in both films is quite interesting. In “Different” there is a complete absence of dialogue and the story is entirely depicted through the acting of the characters (facial expression, movement, etc) and the use of camera, as well as other subtle yet significant elements of craft (such as the symbolism of the “note”). The lack of dialogue is significant and adds to the thematic concerns depicted in “Different” not only because of the Girl’s inability to speak, but because it strongly alludes to the idea that “love” and relationships go deeper than what is shown/communicated on the surface of a person, which is achieved through omitting dialogue completely (especially since it is normally ridden with formalities and falsities). However, in “The Kid” the use of dialogue is present, but only in the later stages of the film. The dialogue doesn’t serve to establish or introduce any new points but to emphasise and clarify what was seen and inferred in the earlier stages of the film by the audience, for example the fact that the men “want” the little boy (the most reasonable inference as to why they were being chased) as well as the bond between the lady and the child. As such, these two short films have helped to demonstrate the fact that short films are far more reliant on what the audience is able to see/hear and instantly comprehend, as opposed to dialogue being heavily relied on as it usually alludes to more long-term occurrences. Short films aim to make impacts and impressions quicker on the audience, as opposed to dialogue which is usually quite drawn out and is based on context. If it is included, dialogue will usually be only “punchy” or impactful. Similarly, the colors and setting of the two films are starkly different, but both have a significance in adding relevance to the theme being portrayed. “Different” is set in a serene and pleasant riverside environment and largely centered around a simple wooden bench in front of which there is a small pathway for cyclists and pedestrians. As such, the colors are brighter and more natural which creates a charming and inviting impression. Therefore, it seems to allude to the innocence and “naturalness” of the couples’ budding relationship. The setting stays constant throughout the film – always centered around the simple wooden bench – which to me serves as a representation of how simple and concrete their relationship is, without the false “accessories” and formalities that people generally tend to employ when entering or aiming to enter a relationship. Interestingly, the characters’ interactions with the constant setting also remain the same (as the girl goes back and forth whilst the boy simply sits there), which could also serve to represent the consistency (and therefore genuinity) of the relationship. In contrast, “The Kid” is based in an edgy and dangerous urban setting, featuring concrete walls, and large garbage bins (dumpsters) and graffiti as the main backdrop for the action. The roughness of the setting is further represented through the dark and grim colours such as cream, beige, grey, black, and grey. The rough and dingy qualities of the setting in which the  action happens represents and hints at the fact that it is an “illicit” operation. Moreover, the fact that it is based against a backdrop of graffiti – a form of art and expression – adds an irony as they are threatening the freedom of the kid, and the colors of the grafitti stand out against the bleak and grim colours of the rest of the setting. The fact that they are also trapped within an enclosed/gated area and hiding behind garbage could serve to represent how they are the “discards” of society, who are gated and trapped within its confines and rules, which could provide explanation as to why they are running away. As such, the films have represented how the qualities and colours of the setting can contribute to the plot/mood of a short film by providing an element of context.

Lastly, the main similarity between these two films is the insights that they provide into human relationships, which seems to be an overarching thematic concern for both films despite their starkly different portrayals. The film “The Kid” seems to portray the idea of “unconditional” love and bonds and how they cannot and will not be broken even when faced with the toughest and most trying of situations. For example, the lady is willing to sacrifice her life and her morals (which is evident in the way she attacks people despite her seeming affection that is shown toward the child) in order to protect the child, and the child is willing to expose his powers (which could be a spot of vulnerability for him) and put himself in danger to save the lady. The intensity of this film serves as an effective background to portray the extent to which true relationships last. However, the film “Different” portrays the more preliminary stages of such strong relationships, as it depicts how the two characters meet one another and form a lasting and genuine relationship based on their love for who they were as individuals on the “inside” as opposed to what their abilities seemed like on the outside. As such, both of these films serve as starkly different yet significant depictions and insights into genuine and unconditional human relationships; both how they are formed and their lasting impacts.