The Power of One Close Viewing Essay.

The Power of One Close Viewing Essay

The power of one is a film directed by John Avildsen and made in 1992 set around World War II and the apartheid in South Africa, About a boy losing everyone he loves and helping other people instead of himself. we see our Protagonist PK’s Fear of the main Antagonist Jaapie Botha in these three film techniques Close up, High angle & Low angle.

In the film, we see PK’s worried face when the bag is taken off his head and Jaapie Botha is standing in front of him giving a speech to all the boys. The close-up shot in this scene of PK’s face, give the audience the feeling of that Jaapie Botha bad is going to do something to hurt PK. The Director put this scene in to show us how much PK feared what Jaapie Botha could do to him and what he was going to do. The effect it gives the Audience was what is going to happen to PK and started to make to Audiences heart race. Later in the film when Sergeant Borman is beating up Geel Piet we are able to see Geel Piet’s face when Sergeant Borman is hitting Geel Piet with his bat.

In this High angle shot of PK looking up at Jaapie Botha, we are shown that PK is powerless and weak from Jaapie Botha. We see PK looking scared up at Jaapie Botha well all the other boys were cheering for Jaapie Botha and his speech about Hitler & killing all the English in South Africa. The Director Uses this to show us why PK is Powerless and Scared of Jaapie Botha, And how PK can't do anything to stop Jaapie Botha. It gives the Audience the effect of that Jaapie Botha is going to do Hurt PK. This shot is used many times to show us how powerful people are, Like when Sergeant Borman is beating geel piet and he's on the ground.

In this low angle shot of showing how powerful Jaapie Botha was after killing PK’s Chicken. We see that Jaapie Botha has his arms out with a fake gun in hand and cheering right he killed PK’s chicken. The director uses this to show us how powerful Jaapie is at this moment in time. We are showed this to see and feel what PK can see and feel, And we can truly see Jaapie and what he is able to do to PK. Just like later on in the film, Jaapie Botha kills Maria instead of killing PK in the fight at the Church.

In conclusion The Power of One by John Avildsen is a powerful film about Apartheid and how someone can lose so much and yet still help other people.