Occupied

Genre Conventions Research: Occupied


This sequence from the film Occupied begins with a female character entering an airplane toilet. We then see a close up shot of the sign 'Occupied' along with a loud locking sound, placing high emphasis on the idea that she wants privacy. With the door locked, the viewer immediately hears non-diegetic sound. This connotes strategic actions and gives the impression that her next actions are premeditated. The quick cuts and fast paced sound all add to the fast pace feel to the film.

We then see her remove, what initially looks like a burger out of her top only to reveal a hidden blade and card. This makes the viewer think that she has sinister plans. A high angle shot is used in showing her open a compartment in which electricals are found and cutting through a wire this shot estabishes that she has hidden motives giving the extract a 'ames Bond style feel of espionage. A close up of her undoing her top is shown, and this immediately gives us sexual connotations and is an example of her using her sexuality to fulfill her goal (this can be argued due to her withdrawing a image detailing the structure of the toilet).

The film extract does not present her as comforming to the stereotypical view that women cannot carry out highly complex tasks. The extract, in fact, subverts this and makes her sexuality part of her strengths as seen when we see another close up shot of her legs and a hidden object strapped to her leg. The extract subverts every trace of femininity being a form of hindrance to the task she is doing and presents it as an advantage to her, from her bra, legs, shoes, lipstick and pants all are used to aid her goal. However her femininity is always present through her clothes and the fact that a mirror shot is often used maybe to again suggest an element of vanity, in addition to the difficulty she finds in pressing and object into shape. She seals the vents with tape then reaches for the lighter; as she lights the cigarette and relaxes now she can smoke, the viewer now understands that all she wanted was to smoke and realise how effectively their expectations have been played with.