Happy-Go-Lucky and Shouting Quietly

1. TEXTUAL
ANALYSIS‘Shouting Quietly’ and ‘Happy-Go-Lucky’

2. HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
➤ Happy-Go-Lucky is a film
about a 30 year-old woman
named Poppy. She is
conscientious and exuberant
primary-school teacher. The
story follows a part of her life
and the turns that it takes.
Along the way, the audience
are left wondering if her open
attitude puts her at risk of
misunderstanding or worse.
What is the root of happiness?
➤ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045670/

3. SIMILARITIES AND
DIFFERENCES➤ The protagonists in both productions are female at
similar parts of their lives. Both are independently
produced.
➤ However, Milly in Shouting Quietly is very introverted
and uncomfortable in her surroundings, whereas
Poppy in Happy-Go-Lucky is extroverted and
comfortable with the majority of what is happening in
her life.

4. ANALYSIS
➤ One of the earliest shot in Shouting Quietly is a
medium shot and this led into a medium close up
shot of our protagonist.
➤ In Happy-Go-Lucky, a long shot is used to
establish the protagonist, as she rides her bike.
However, we see her face more clearly as a
medium close up is used.
➤ Medium shots are useful as general shots
as they allow the audience to pick up on
character’s movements. Body language is
an important way to pick up emotions and
are close enough that they capture that
emotion without being intrusive.

5. ANALYSIS
➤ One of the camera movement used in Shouting
Quietly is a track as Milly walks around the car
➤ The track used here perhaps connotes the
build up on the journey to Milly’s new house.
Both she and the audience are in the
unknown about what the start of her new life
will be like.
➤ In Happy-Go-Lucky, a handheld track backwards is
used to follow Poppy riding her bike.
➤ By having a track to follow movement, the
audience are given a overview of the
character’s surroundings.
➤ A possible connotation of this shot is that
Poppy is comfortable in her environment; she
knows where she is and where she’s going.

6. ANALYSIS
➤ Both productions use extreme long shots as the
protagonist walks into the frame.
➤ These shots and framing are useful as they
allow the audience to see the movement of a
character as well as provide establishing of the
setting. For both, the movement is important as
in Shouting Quietly, Milly is walking towards
the shed which will become of significance in
the film, and in Happy-Go-Lucky, Poppy is
parking her bike and continuing to show the
audience a routine of a day in her life.
➤ Both shots also connote similar things; each
woman is central to what is going to happen
and what is going on - they are both in control
of what they will do next.

7. ANALYSIS
➤ Whilst the character’s in both productions are
establishing and exploring their surroundings - in
Shouting Quietly Milly is seeing her new house
for the first time and opening the door to the
shed; in Happy-Go-Lucky, Poppy is looking at
things in a market and also in a bookshop -
Medium shots are used.
➤ Similarly to previous shots, MS are an
important aspect to show emotion. Both show
the character’s being drawn to unknown
scenarios and wondering what they may find.

8. ANALYSIS
➤ In Shouting Quietly, a close up is used to show the
happiness on Milly’s face when she sees the
easel.
➤ In the same way, a medium close up/close up is
used in Happy-Go-Lucky when Poppy finds a book
that she likes in the bookshop.
➤ Close ups are beneficial as they provide a real
sense of emotion and allow the audience to
connect with the protagonist. In Shouting
Quietly, the audience can see that art is going
to have a positive impact on Milly’s life, and in
Happy-Go-Lucky, the audience learn, through
the use of a MCU/CU more about the character
- how she clearly enjoys books and is easily
pleased.

9. ANALYSIS
➤ Shouting Quietly is set in the countryside and this is shown
through the framing of each shot. The audience see fields and a
landscape where there aren't many cars or buildings. Also, Milly’s
new house is a cottage and has a well kept garden.
➤ Because of this, we know that Milly has quite a wealthy
background as she is able to live in a well kept and good size
property at a young age. It also connotes that she is
comfortable being isolated and away from the hustle and bustle
of a city.
➤ Happy-Go-Lucky however is set, or starts, in the city of London as
Poppy is seen cycling through cars, black-cabs and traffic as well
as past some recognisable London landmarks. The area she
cycles into also seems ‘well-to-do’ and is therefore possible quite
desirable, particularly if it on the outskirts of London.
➤ From this, we can assume that Poppy has a comfortable
standard of living and makes a decent wage to support her.
➤ Both films go against the typical genre convention of a Social
Realism as the character’s of this genre usually live in more poor,
urban settings and often have a lower standard of living.

10. ANALYSIS
➤ Milly is a 22 year old University graduate whereas
Poppy is aged 30. Poppy however has a stable job as a
teacher and is shown to be content with her life as she
is smiling the majority of the time whilst she is riding her
bike. She is also seen waving to people as she goes.
On the other hand, Milly seems to be much more
uncomfortable with her surroundings; she is in a new
place and finds it difficult to make the most of it. She
walks slowly taking everything in and doesn't appear to
show much happiness until she discovers the art studio.
➤ The reason for this contrast is the contrast in the
character’s personality. Milly is introverted and prefers
to be on her own, although takes time to adjust to
change. Poppy however appears to be extroverted and
seems to the know people around her. Her job suggests
that she is confident and the title of the film tells us that
she is a ‘happy-go-lucky’ type of person.

11. ANALYSIS - SOUND
AND LIGHTING
➤ In terms of lighting, both productions use appear
to make use of natural light as a number of shots
have been filmed outdoors. This also adds to the
realism of the films as they appear natural.
Furthermore, the indoor lighting in both films is
not overpowering, and continues to look realistic.

12. ANALYSIS - SOUND
AND LIGHTING➤ In regards to the sound, both productions use
soundtracks; in Happy-Go-Lucky, the soundtrack is
cheery and repetitive but fits in with the continuous
shot of Poppy cycling. However, the music begins to
fade and gets much quieter as Poppy enters the
book shop. Furthermore, the music comes in
straight away with the first shot.
➤ In Shouting Quietly, the soundtrack begins as the
door is opened to Milly’s new home. Although
repetitive, at different stages of the sequence, the
theme of the music changes to reflect the mood that
Milly is feeling (this could also be said about Happy-
Go-Lucky as the music is happy throughout,
reflecting Poppy’s happiness).
➤ In both productions the music is used to set the
atmosphere for the action happening on screen