Nits
UK, 2003
Director: Harry Wootliff
Language: English
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 10 minutes
Short Synopsis
Seven-year-old James has nits and wants his mum to check his head, but she has more worrying things on her mind.
Long synopsis
Nits tells the story of James, a seven-year-old boy who is struggling to understand the effects of a family tragedy. While James is waiting for his mum to return from hospital, he can't help scratching his head. He has nits, but refuses his grandmother's offer to check his scalp, preferring to wait for his mother. But when she finally arrives James soon realises that something has changed. His mother is distracted, unable to look after him in the way she usually does.
James' father eventually explains the cause of this behaviour, by breaking the difficult news that his baby sister died at birth. James is unable to fully grasp the consequences and is rather confused by the whole situation. As he cannot understand his mother's lack of consideration for him and his nit affliction, he grows increasingly angry and frustrated by her depression.
During the course of the film, James gains understanding of his mother's behaviour and, by recognising the sadness she is feeling, learns about the way people grieve.
Background information
About the film
This touching film tells its story using slow paced screen action with little dialogue or noise. Colours are carefully chosen to emphasise and enhance emotions like isolation, loss and confusion. With time and space given time and space given to the characters, astute cinematography and outstanding performances, Nits succeeds in creating a sense of what it is to grieve. It is a powerful example of how film techniques can be used to represent emotions rather than action.
Nits has won the prestigious TCM Classic Shorts competition, Best short film Polaroid newcomer at Rushes 2004, Turner Classic Award 2004, best short at the London Film Festival, and received nominations for BAFTA Best Short Film and Kodak showcase 2004. It was also one of the winners of the Jerwood Short Film script prize.
About the film-maker
Leeds born writer/director Harry Wootliff trained as an actress at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and is now a writer for film and television. Her work includes Freaky, an eight-part children's drama series commissioned by the BBC. Nits was Wootliff's directorial debut. It was funded by Screen Yorkshire and shot by veteran Director of Photography Brian Tufano (Trainspotting).
Teaching materials and additional materials
The teaching materials have been developed by practising teachers to provide a springboard for your own work with your pupils. Feel free to use and adapt them appropriate to your pupils' needs.
The additional materials, provided by the film-makers, can be used to develop your work with the film and deepen pupils' understanding of the process of film-making.
