How They Get There

By Spike Jonze 1997HOW THEY GET THERE

Short film analysis

LENGTH AND CHARACTERS

Short films are typically between 3 and 20 minutes long but can be shorter like this one. Films under 5 minutes are usually known as short shorts.

Short films generally only have 1 to 3 main characters as the length limits what they can do, this also makes it easier to follow the storyline . How They Get There contains 2 main characters and one who only briefly appears at the start, you don’t learn anything in depth about these characters during the film but it’s not needed.

STORYLINE

The storyline is light hearted and simple (to start with) and set over a short period of time. There’s no dialogue involved, instead characters are developed through actions. It involves a man walking along a road and a woman copying his movements, they continue doing this until the twist… I like the

added prop of the milk, such a small thing adds a lot to the piece.

THE TWIST

As the film seems very cheery from the start the sudden twist comes quite unexpectedly; the light hearted music also adds to this, making it come as even more of a shock to the audience.

Although it only involves 1 setting and a couple of actors, this would have had a higher budget than most short films because of the dramatic car crash.

I also like how the opening image foreshadows the ending of the film.