'Steel Homes'

1. 'Steel Homes'

It seems that the aims of Eva Weber in this film are to show the way in which people are unable to let go of the past, and in doing so to display this nostalgia in a negative light. The main themes connected to the director's aims are memories, death, the human emotional connection to objects and our inability to let go.

The film takes a somewhat cynical view in its portrayal of the people using this storage space. This is made apparent by the 'cold' elements in the film. First of all the idea of steel connotes the cold and the industrial. It has no connections to the ideas of human emotion or any warm feelings that the people depicted in the film might get from keeping hold of these objects that obviously mean a great deal to them. Secondly the way in which the film is shot conveys a sense of cold and depression. For example the shots down the 'streets' of steel containers are reminiscent of a 'void', an endless corridor of metal doors housing memories that are maybe best left to lie. This idea of a void relates to the theme of the inability to let go and human emotional connection. The void is endless just as our grief will be if we are unable to let go.

The lighting is also important in how the filmmaker has created a 'cold atmosphere'. By using only thew strip lighting that was in the storage facility, an atmosphere that is almost clinical has been created which in turn adds to the idea of emotional detachment.

On the subject of emotional detachment, the voice overs that are telling the story of the steel homes, are faceless, and only snippets of the whole story which makes it feel impersonal thus adding to the idea of emotional detachment and the cold atmosphere. In addition to this, the fact that the voice overs are only snippets lends itself to the idea that the director has been very careful in the edit by choosing only snippets of a story which enforce the films aim, to show how we are unable to let go of the past.

Apart from this it is important to note the sense of voyeurism in the film. One is very aware that the viewer is made to feel like they are spying into a very private world that is not their own. This them further enforces the feelings of emotional detachment as we as viewers are not made to feel part of this world of steel homes, more as curious by passers.

In my opinion this was a successful film as it effectively portrays the idea of storing memories in a depressing light and it makes one feel as though it is a negative thing to do. However this does not mean I personally liked the film, I found it had a depressing view point, and negatively portrayed the people who are storing their belongings. That said I can appreciate its artistry as it is incredibly moving and through it's use of technical codes such as lighting and sound it effectively conveys its message.