Reflection Paper

(12 Angry Men)

Let me start with the question, from my understanding, what is the film about? So, for me
the film is about 12 juries sent to deliberations in the first-degree murder trial of an 18-year-old
Puerto Rican boy accused in the stabbing death of his father, where a guilty verdict means an
automatic death sentence. It all started with one man that having doubts that did the 18-year-old
boy really killed his father. Let’s make the long story short with my explanation, there will be
two main guys in the argument first is the man that is having what ifs and the other man that will
be contradicting what the main character would say. So, it started with a 11-1 voting in favor of
guilty, but the protagonist says what if the kid is not guilty? He would be sent to a death sentence
at such a young age. Then the protagonist slowly shows his fellowmen about his what ifs. The
knife, the antagonist said it is a unique knife and the angle of it and more then the protagonist
showed the murder knife, but it wasn’t just the murder knife, but it is the replica. The “I’m going
to kill you”, someone told the jury that she heard the “I’m going to kill you” as, the protagonist
said if she was to hear the “I’m going to kill you” isn’t it possible that it’s just another person
shouting. And finally, my favorite part of the movie, which is the reenactment, there is this
crippled guy who claimed he saw the boy running as a woman shout and heard the body slam, so
to make it short they reenacted it and the story of the crippled guy is not matching with the
reenactment of the jury. Now as the movie reaching to it’s ending the protagonist can’t accept
that the 18-year-old boy is not guilt because of his family trauma which is his son going into
rebellion to his father. Now from the vote of 11-1 it went to 0-12 with the case of the boy is not
guilty.

Let’s go to the second question how did the cinematography enhance the storytelling?
Even though the movie was released in 1957 the cinematography is great. If you ask me why
because I love how the camera movement and the blocking works. Even though the film has
many static camera movements there are still a lot of moving camera movement that is flowing
well with the blocking. The setting of the movie is just two places one in the court room and one
in the juries’ discussion room, which most of the scene were. Even though it was just two place

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 they manage the cinematography great because let’s be straight a black and white is mostly
boring because it is more interesting to watch a movie that is colored right? But with those
camera movement along with the character moving to their position, where they are, where they
are going to, and what are they doing, whit these things the film isn’t boring because of the
details they are showing. Now going back to the question how did the cinematography enhance
the storytelling? It is all about the camera movement and the actor’s movement going in sync and
it feels like you are there.

Now going for my last question, what are the technical aspects of the film that stood out
to you? There are only few things that stood out for me that most director in the Philippines don’t
focus on the storytelling and the actor’s talent. In the Philippines today most story is cliché, and
they only focus on the aesthetic of the cinematography. For example, Paul Soriano, I love his
cinematography, but he lacks the storytelling and showcasing what the audience what feels like.
Siargao, this movie by Paul Soriano has a good cinematography but it was such a boring film I
remember me and by friends watched the film at the cinema located at SM city Manila back
when I was senior high school, we were excited about the movie because the trailer is beautiful
but when I was watching it, mid part of movie I slept because the storyline was getting boring.
Next is supposed to be my favorite film if it wasn’t for the boring scenes, first love, I love the
cinematography, the color grading, the setting, but the story is starting to feel like a filler rather
than an interesting movie, I love the twist of the movie but it is predictable, he got the best actor
and actress which is Aga Mulach and Bea Alonzo they have good chemistry but the storyline is
to I don’t know it doesn’t feel like they delivered the feelings. So comparing some of the films in
the Philippines to this movie, even though this movie is black and white, and simple, the camera
movements, storyline, and actors delivery of each action, is a big kiss to the sky.

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