https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctRP3b4NntM
Donkey is a short film by Keir Burrows is a non linear film, that focuses on narration to show how one event has changed the perspective of the narrator. The shots throughout the film have been edited so that they are desaturated, which gives the film an overall theme. It works well, as the story being told by the narrator is set in the recent past, and the gray scale works well at showing the character's perspective on this memory.
The film opens up with a shot of a stormy sky. There are thick clouds in the sky, and it creates a gloomy effect through pathetic fallacy. The next shot is a close up of the main character. He looks like he is in his early 20's, also hinted at by his clothes (hoodie). His facial expression looks like he is deep in thought. Next to him is the chain of a swing, and he moves back and forth in the frame, which shows that he is at a park, which also helps determine his age as early 20's.
The first sound is slow, long music notes. The film only has one non diegetic soundtrack that does not crescendo or change rapidly at any point. It is a simple piece of music, with lots of low long-lasting notes and piano notes. Over the top of this is the narrator's voice. From his accent, it is obvious that he is British, and from London or somewhere close. He says that ever since this story, he goes walking before his work, for about an hour. He says it is "as a way to get a little... I don't know...perspective I guess". The way he says this, and the line itself suggest that he can't really sum up his reason for this walk. This suggests that it is either very complicated or very personal to the main character. He says the city is best in the morning, and that "It's where I grew up, and without quite intending to, where I decided to stay". This line is accompanied by a series of shots of the character walking through where he grew up. One shot in particular shows him brushing his hand up against the railing of a park. This is a fairly childlike thing to do, and the statement about him staying in his hometown could suggest that the character is not fond of change. Both the park and the brushing against the railings could be signs that he enjoys nostalgia, and that he doesn't want to easily give up what he grew up with.
After this comes a long shot of him on a bridge, with the same facial expression as in the first shot. he says that this story is not about his morning exercise, but "it's about a person". He says he passes the "schools I attended, this here was my first; five or six years old". This is accompanied by a shot of the character from behind, in front of a school. The grey scale works well here to establish a sense of nostalgia/memories from the main character. 
The next line is "my best mate back then was this sunny little kid Stanley. Now, Stanley was Magic". This is accompanied by a series of shots of the school interior, classrooms, corridors, etc. The characters voice lightens up when talking about Stanley, showing that back then he was very good friends with him, and thought he was great. "he was the noisiest, funniest kid in class. He could imitate animals like no one else on earth". This shows that he thought Stanley was hilarious at the time, and shows the simple sense of humour of school children. He even compares Stanley's imitations to "turning water into wine".This exaggerated comparison shows that Stanley was similar to Jesus in terms of popularity for his talents. He says Stanley's "best trick was the donkey", and there'd be "at least a dozen of us laughing and screaming and following his wake". This is related to the title of the film, being that the donkey was what Stanley was best known for, and that the story evolves around him.
He says that they they went to different primary schools. "I had it good growing up...I made new friends easily". This shows that the main character has adapted well to school life, and that he was never left out as he had friends. He then talks about his life at high school. He says that he realised after a few weeks "that this quiet kid in one of the other classes was Stanley. He was an awkward boy now; shy and ... was a butt of some mild teasing". This, like the other narration, is accompanied by a series of images of the school. One in particular, a menacing looking barbed fence, complements the line about Stanley's teasing. The fence could be a metaphor for Stanley feeling trapped. The narrator says "I chose not to make myself known", which shows that under the circumstances of adapting to a new school, the narrator did not approach Stanley, probably out of fear that he too would be included in the teasing for it. This also works with the metaphor of the fence, both characters being on either side.
He says that the school councillor said "He was challenged, i can't remember what exactly..autistic..low IQ, something like that". This sheds a different light onto Stanley, and could explain his popularity when they were children, having a very childish sense of humour. This also shows that whilst others have grown up from those days, Stanley obviously has not adapted as well, hence why he was awkward and shy. The next shot is of rain falling into a body of water, which is a metaphor for the mood changing, as revealed in the next line. The narrator says he told the class "'he thought he was a fucking donkey!' I said. 'Ee aw ee aw', I showed my teeth and made new friends". This shows that the narrator has purposely ridiculed Stanley in hopes to make new friends. the friends he gained, would have been at the expense of Stanley. With this, is a shot of the narrator brushing his teeth in the mirror, which goes with the line about showing his teeth. He goes on to say "It didn't take long. I never joined in but i'm sure I laughed as they pushed and taunted". This shows that though the narrator did not directly bully Stanley, his friends did, and Stanley was laughing at Stanley's expense.
He says "Stanley was soon gone, I hardly noticed". This is accompanied by a close up shot of the main character on the train. His facial expression shows that, again, he is in thought, and he looks slightly regretful. The narrator explains how he studied law, graduated, and got a job working in a major bank. Whilst explaining this, there is no excitement in his voice, he sounds like he has sounded throughout the story. This suggests that he is not fully happy with his life. He says his girlfriend got an "internship doing something wonderful in.. Angola.. I have no idea either". This shows that he is living alone, and he doesn't really know what his girlfriend is doing. He knows that she is happy in what she is doing, but doesn't know what. This could show that he is very focused on his own work, and is trying to manage his life at the moment. There are a series of shots showing his commute to work, all of which he has the same blank expression throughout. He is traveling, and living, alone, showing that there are not many people there for this character now that he has left school, despite him doing well and earning a job in a major bank. He looks unhappy in all the shots, further adding to this.
There is then a cut to a timelapse of the night in the city, cars and people fly through the screen, creating a sense of time flying by. The narrator says "I was out drinking when I saw him, part of a roadwork crew, I recognized him immediately". He is obviously talking about Stanley, as that is the only specific person he has talked about. Stanley, from this information, doesn't have as high calibre job as the narrator. "'David' he said without prompting, 'how are you?'". Stanley has obviously remembered who David was, and hasn't let any of the past bother him, as he is the first of the two to talk. David (the narrator) replies "amazing man, perfect, living the dream; I'm rich". The shot shows a somewhat smug expression on David as he recalls his successes. This shows that David is very keen to show off all of his success, and is boasting towards Stanley. He shows Stanley his watch, stated to be worth £3000. Stanleys face is unimpressed, and it shows that he does not value materialistic objects as much as David does. Stanley invites David to Dinner, and David is taken aback by this, but exchanges numbers with him. He has not expected Stanley to have moved on so well from the bullying, hence why he was taken aback.
The narrator says that a fortnight later he gets a call. "she said she was his wife, and that Stanley wasn't much for phones, but would you like to come to dinner being an old friend and all". From his phrasing, David did not expect Stanley to have a wife. He is still thinking very much in the past, about the Stanley he used to know.
Later, David arrives at "the door of this total stranger". The door swing open, revealing Stanley's wife, and David says "His wife was pretty. And he was smiling; a soft spoken man who read a lot, painted, worked shifts for the city council". David has obviously been welcomed by Stanley, and finds out a lot that he didn't know about him at dinner. He explains that his wife was a nursery school teacher, and they wanted to start a family. "I'm not successful like you...we're not rich but it's working out" says Stanley. From all the shots, both Stanley and his wife are sown to be smiling and happy. it is very obvious that they are content with what they have, and that they do not desire money like David does. David then narrates "he didn't sound retarded at all". This line shows that David had realised that he had completely misjudged Stanley. The tone of his voice has regret to it, showing that David regrets what he did in the past, knowing how ordinary and happy he was as an adult.
The last scene is of David leaving. He narrates "'Hey Dave' he says. I turn and he's grinning. 'Ee aw'". This shows that Stanley remember what made them friends all those years ago. Stanley mean it in a friendly way, but it is too much shame for David to emotionally digest, hence why he couldn't smile. He was disgusted at himself. David Leaves through the front door, and walks off with his finger brushing against the fence, absorbing perspective, as he now does on his morning walks. The film finishes with the line "who's the donkey now". This means that David realises that he has been caught up with his own success, too much to realise how alone he now is, whilst Stanley now is happily working with a wife that loves him. Stanley acknowledges that he's not as rich as David, and it doesn't bother him because he is content.I think this short film works well because it tells a story with several ways of interpreting it. It is very focused on the narration, however, the black and white shots complement the narration, and show emotions in the characters the words cannot.
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