Hotel Babylon - Representation of Ethnicity

Discuss the ways in which the exact constructs the representation of ethnicity using the following:

• Camera angles, movement, composition
• Editing
• Sound
• Mis en scene

Hotel Babylon

English woman at desk speaks very formally, close up camera shot of face representing power. She also comments “brain like a sieve” to an african worker.

Immigrant officer was central in the camera shot, this shows power and authority. Volume of music rises when the officers come in.

The ethnic workers are lower physically in comparison to the hotel, they work in the cellar of the hotel. They also have jobs like cleaners and cooks that are assumed as a lower class job. All the workers panic downstairs who are wearing a basic uniform. This takes away independence and is a representation of a hard working job.

African man who appears to be a general cleaner helps save the woman with diabetes, his use of language shows he has a knowledgable skills. “I wasn’t always a cleaner” gives an indication to a past career.

Camera Angles - Low camera angles of workers around woman with diabetes, shows panic and how scared they are. Camera pans when the immigrants hear a knock on the door, shows fear. camera isn’t still, moves with action.

When the locker was opened it was very empty, this shows the person didn't have much belongings and personal items.

Sound - A fast high rate sound track is played in the background, this represents a heart rate increasing, which shows fear. Slower music is played when the woman clear out the locker of the immigrant who got taken away. Various different types of languages, shows a difference and range of different ethnic backgrounds.

Workers sit in separate ethnic groups, the african workers sat together whereas the European group was on a different table laughing and talking.

Facial expressions of other workers are very sad and worried towards the end, they sit in silence when eating and do not engage in conversation or look at each other.