During this five minute clip of A Touch of Frost, disbility is presented many times throughout. Camera work, editing, sound and miss-en-scene are all contributers to the display of disability.
The first thing the audience hear is a sentence about a character called 'Billy'. From this, they will gather the assumption that he could perhaps be the disabled individual that they'll be introduced to shortly. The comment comes from a woman who states "I didn't think there was anything strange....about Billy" the pause she inserted creates a dramatic feel for his character. Her talking about him also demonstrates her understanding of disabled people.
After her statement, non diegetic music begins to play as a different scene falls on the screen. It was the kind of music that stood for suspicion. A tracking shot was used to follow, what the audience would consider to be Billy, out onto the road in the pitch black. He's dusting himself off which suggests 'wrong doing'. At this point, disability is associated with deviant behaviour, which is then further reinforced by the continued use of low-key lighting that portrays the stereotypical horror movie. Scenes in the dark always create a sense of spookyness which may be complimenting the danger Billy could possibly be in, as police dogs are then introduced, sniffing around the woods. Disability is demonstrated as being a negative issue here that needs to quickly be resolved as most disabled people are unaware of any 'wrong doing' that they perform.
Billy appears to be naive to the large amount of police presence during the tracking shot of him peacefully strolling down the road. The close up shot of his reaction presents disabled individuals as being easily frightened, vulnerable and innocent. His first reaction is to run. This could be seen by the police officers as a criminal escaping from a life behind bars, but Billy is disabled and doesn't know any better. The audience therefore feel sympathetic towards him and build up hatred for the police officercs that are evidently petrifying him. Shouting men and barking dogs are heard just a few seconds after Billy strarts running. These are intimidating noises that any startled disabled person would try to hide from.
Unfortunately the police officer catches Bily, wraps his arms around him whilst then rolling around on the floor. Billy makes an attempt to escape from the officers hold but is being overpowered. Disability is presented here as being a lot more weaker and in need of being controlled. Billy cries out "I haven't done anything wrongggg" in a purely innocent and vulnerable tone, speaking how perhaps a toddler would. The previous music plays again during the last few seconds of Billy's plead to reinforce the tension and conundrum. The police officers ignore him and keep him held by his collars to illustrate the disabled as being powerless.
The combination of a crabbing shot, a collection of neighbours gathered late outside of Billy's home as well as a police officer standing on guard, are all film techniques used to represent disability as a potential threat to the local community.
Detective Frost tentively asks Billy's father whether Billy would be considered as 'mentally subnormal', but is then corrected and told that Billy is infact 'handicapped. Frost apologises for his mistake and nods his head in acknowledgement, which could be displaying how those who are abled bodied are ignorant about those with learning difficulties.
Detective Frost tentively asks Billy's father whether Billy would be considered as 'mentally subnormal', but is then corrected and told that Billy is infact 'handicapped. Frost apologises for his mistake and nods his head in acknowledgement, which could be displaying how those who are abled bodied are ignorant about those with learning difficulties. Frost stating that he'll need someone in there with him incase he breaks the rules displays the need for disabled individuals to be handled with care.
His mum then comes into shot asking if she'd be able to 'clean him up'. A mother with a child, whether they be disabled or not, will always make her care about her babies no matter how old they are; motherly love. Nevertheless, disabled people are generally prone to being treated like baby's, and the washing pot of water that his mother is holding portrays that.
Billy's father goes in to explain what's happening to him, and introducing him to the detective that 'wants to ask him something'. His dad is knelt down beside him with his arm firmly spread around him and his hand placed on his shoulder to again display the idea of Billy being treated like a child. High angle shots are typically used to suggest that those being 'looked down on' are easily intimidated, and this is used at this point of the clip. The detective holds the authority.
When the camera focuses on Billy, his head is tilted to the side with a confused expression printed on his face. He could perhaps be overly suspicious of those in authority. His father sitting closely behind Billy could indicate how he's acting as a much needed anchor for his son.
Billy needs to be gently handled, hence why the inspector briefly goes over the situation that Billy was in to remind him of what had happened. The tone that the detective uses could be seen as slightly intimidating for us as an audience. Furthermore, the use of a high angle from Billy's perspective combined with the dialogue "I was frightened" could further reinforce the representation of the abled bodied being in control and more dominant to those weaker.
Billy is shot using the film technique low-key lighting that casts a shadow over his shoulder. Given that darkness is culturally associated with 'evil' it could be argued that at this point, disability is being displayed as slightly untrustworthy or potentially having a sinister side.
In contrast, the combined techniques of reverse editing, low angle framing shot, close ups of the inspectors facial expressions and the use of high key lighting further leads to the representation of the abled bodied bein more trustworth and genuine.
Billy responds to the inspectors question of "you saw Trisha this evening didn't you?" with a few nods of his head which children are usually known for doing when being spoken down upon. When talking directly to Billy, the detective's tone is very low and his use of dialgoue is very precise and slowly spoken all very typical of how one might speak to a child. Billy in return gives short, straight to the point replies to avoid being made to look like a criminal. This also portrays his lack of communication skills as he probably can't string together long sentences; neither can young children.
The detective runs through parts of Billy's night and then says "is that when you saw Trisha? You saw her again after tea?" expecting Billy to agree. This use of language is manipulative and intimidating for Billy, but he answers with a shake of his head, disagreeing with the detective's assumptions who ends up having a 'proved wrong' expression on his face.
The inspector forces lots of questions upon Billy and he eventually reacts with a baffled expression and response of "I don't know". The inspector huffs and looks unimpressed by his lack of success with his investigation. Frost refuses to give up his inquiry and therefore continues with his accusation, making Billy feel bad for Trisha perhaps being "hurt, frightened, or fallen down unable to get up". His tone sligtly increases when he asks "Can you help, Billy?". This portrays his dominance that he comfortably advances throughout the inspection.
The patient tone adopted by the inspector combined with Billy's sharp correction of his father and the fact that Billy is shot in the foreground with his slightly blurred father in the background, connotates that Billy is in control. He however doesn't look the inspector in the eye after correcting his father of where he actually went. Could this be because Billy is lying or just feeling extremely intimidated by him?
The clip ends on Billy becoming defensive and repeating how he didn't see Trisha three times. At this point he grows agitated and raises his tone, whilst also bending forwards closer to the inspector. Disabled individuals in this clip have been presented as helpless and interrogated until they become uncomfortable, making the audience feel sympathetic towards them along with perhaps threatened at the same time. A mixture of interpretations can be discovered in this five minute clip.
