Scene Analysis

In Charles Burnett’s 1977 film, Killer of Sheep, there are many scenes were children imitate or mirror adults. There is a particular scene where a mother is getting ready in the bathroom. She is applying make up, and grooming herself in the mirror. The camera is placed outside the door, where the actual doorway is framing her. In the next room is her daughter, the young girl is singing to herself and grooming herself as she sees her mother doing. The camera is placed outside the door, with the doorway acting as a frame. Both scenes create a feeling of voyeurism, and they are compositionally similar. The camera is straight on, documenting the action. This is done to show the parallel between mother and daughter, and how children watch and copy what they see. This fits into the broader theme of responsibility in this film.
The film opens with a boy being reprimanded for not taking responsibility of his younger brother during a fight. The film is filled with many vignettes of children playing without parental supervision or guidance. No one seems to be in charge, or looking after these children. As a result, children are ultimately left to their own devices. What they do and how they act, is a direct result of what they see. Burnett chose to keep the camera position the same, to articulate to the audience that these two characters although different age are the same.