King of Laughter from Tarmak Media on Vimeo.
Themes and focus that I found to be present within
King of Laughter were revolving around the concepts of hope, adversity and
enjoyment. These themes were explored through Belachew Girma, a man who
holds the world record for continuous timed laughter. As Girma goes through the
British town of Walsall, famous for being one of the unhappiest places to live,
we learn about his history and the loss he has suffered in his life and how he
now looks to give happiness to himself and others through laughter. I feel it was very successful in conveying
these themes and dealt with the subject matter in a tender and sincere way,
whilst also having a light tone with comedic elements. Techniques used in this
film include time lapses, which help to emphasize the amount of time Girma
laughs for and how he affects the people around him; the time lapses
occasionally stop to allow brief interviews or moments with other contributors.
The camera is also locked onto Girma, further elevating the notion that he is
the centre of this story the bringer of joy. The narrative ark is largely
specific to Girma’s personal story but it does bring closure at the end.
