Analysis of the Film Validation

Kurt Kuenne and Validation

Kurt Kuenne is the director of the engaging short film Validation, which is about smiles. The movie builds an intriguing plot about a man who offers free two-hour parking validation to residents of the town while having very dull camera work. Hugh Newman inspires his clients and gives them compliments on their appearance, despite the fact that the service is free. It’s interesting to note that the parking industry, which had previously had few customers, suddenly starts to boom with new customers who want to park their cars but also share in Newman’s satisfying compliments. Indeed, the short film provides a progressive and following story that is backed up with a captivating background music, which provides a similar ambiance to the film. The film, which develops from the themes of happiness, love, and inspiration, develops a narrative about the importance of appreciating other human beings, and this is seen where Newman gives his clients a different perspective on them, thus making them smile.

Progressive Plot and Thematic Concept

The producer manages to develop the short film progressively from a dull beginning to a memorable ending, which maintains the plot of the story throughout the film. The thematic concept developed is about happiness and love, where the main character, Newman, provides a perfect fit to express both themes. According to the film, Newman impresses his clients by complimenting their physical characters and giving them a new perspective about themselves. For instance, the first client who arrives for validation is a white-collar man, who exhibits signs of oppression and stress. It is quite ironic how the man can be such dull in the morning while the day has not progressed yet. In a closer analysis, Newman mentions his good-looking face and how he looks sharp (time code, 0.39). The man with doesn’t believe him, as he did not imagine that he could ever get such compliments, and this brings a smile on his face. Newman tells the man, “you have an amazing face, and you have powerful features” (time code, 0.41). How the man responded inferred that he longed for such good compliments, which attracted him to return the next day for the same piece of Newman’s joyful medicine.

Cinematic Analysis and Visual Elements

Based on the cinematic analysis of the film, the scenes are shot in black and white production with minimal changes in location. The use of black and white contrast develops the old age feeling about the movie, which is a rather dull aspect. From the analysis of the photographic lighting, it can be noted that the film was created on a low budget with limited use of cinematic techniques. Considering the costumes and the props, most characters are officially dressed, meaning that they live an uptown life with white-collar jobs. The camera distance is shot in a close view with the aim of grasping the facial angle of the characters. Since the film focuses on happiness and smile, the scenes are captured in close range to show the transition of the smile in the character’s faces.

Body Language and Musical Tones

The film uses body language as the main technique of illustrating the theme of happiness. This is seen where most clients arrive with a dull expression on their face, and after the magical compliments from Newman, the clients begin to put a smile on their faces. Such expressions of smiles are well illustrated through the close camera distance, thus indicating a good cinematography aspect in the film.

The film incorporates musical tones throughout the entire scenes. Barely any scene lacks a musical background. The songs used in this film are a happy song that coincides with the storyline, thus providing a joyful atmosphere of the story. The musical background develops a good feel for the audience, which provides a powerful connection towards its audience, and helps the viewers to connect with the producer’s main intention of illustrating happiness. For instance, the film illustrates a happy tone in a dental clinic, where the dentists are attending their clients while dancing to the background song, which says, ”Smile, smile, and smile (time code, 3.20)”.

Strong Character and Love Theme

The producer manages to develop a strong character of protagonist, Newman, who can interact with young and old people. His strong personality and gift for sincerity provide him with the chance to meet his boss, who also introduces him to the world. Newman also illustrates a funny character that makes some parts of the films hilarious. For instance, Newman compliments Saddam Hussein about his mustache telling him how good it looks on him (time code, 3.10).

The film illustrates the theme of love in the episode, where Newman visits DMV and falls in love with the woman that was taking the passport photos. Newman expresses his affection towards the woman, illustrating the longing feeling of love that he had not felt in quite a long time. However, the woman gives Newman a hard time due to the sadness she has on her face. Kuenne manages to shoot an ironic scene where Newman fails to make the woman she loves to smile, while he has managed to impress the whole world. Ironically, if Newman had inspired a person like Saddam Hussein, how could he fail to inspire the simple and pretty photographer?

Newman’s mission of love to win the heart of the woman depressed him after failing many times and shifted his focus from his daily duty. He lost his job and became a dull person instead. From this scene, we learn that people yearn to get that thing that makes them happy. For Newman, he was successful in fulfilling people’s lives but also wanted to make his life fulfilling. It is clear that he wanted to experience true love, and this is seen where he is requested to take pictures for some couple, and for a minute he wishes he could travel around the world with the lady she loved (time code, 8.12). From the small favor that he offers to the couple, he manages to gain back his own validation.

Moral Lesson of the Film

The moral concept developed from the film is about the validation of the good nature of human beings. The film compliments the aspect of being good to people, and illustrates how smile propels the lives of people. From the different scenes captured, we analyze that dullness is the cause of poor attitude towards life and may result in boredom. Newman’s sadness causes him his job and through the many unsuccessful attempts to win the love of the photographer, his life becomes bored. From this scene, we infer that the reward for efforts made by people is what keeps them going in life. If Newman had won the heart of the woman earlier, he would not have lost his job.

In addition, the aspect of doing good to others, which in this film, is referred to as validation, is a positive attribute that rewards human beings. Doing good to others, and making them happy is a validation in life that makes the society around us to be fulfilling. Such efforts of validation also never go empty-handed. Newman redeemed his faith in validating people’s lives through offering a simple service of helping the couple. He goes on and manages to make the woman’s mother happy, thus restoring the joy of the woman that he fell in love with. This act of doing good deeds to others through validating their lives repaid Newman by awarding him the love he wanted.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the film Validation is a captivating film produced by Kurt Kuenne, which develops the story about validating people’s lives through promoting happiness. The scenes are created in an overlapping manner with a smooth flow of the storyline. The main character, Hugh Newman, manages to not only offer his customers free car validation but also free compliments. From the scenes illustrated from the films, the themes of happiness, love, and inspiration are well developed throughout the scenes. The musical background plays throughout the scenes, and coincides with the film’s main theme of happiness. The cinematography techniques, such as the close camera distance, provide a good view of the facial expressions made by the characters, thus revealing their happiness. The moral lesson developed from the story is about validating the good nature of humanity. People should aspire to do good things to others since, through that validation, they may also get their lives validated.

Works Cited

Validation. Directed by Kurt Kuenne, Perf. Hugh Newman. 2007.