Analysis of Ute Aurands Paulina

Ute Aurands Paulina is the first in a series of five films depicting close family members
of hers. The film focuses on her daughter over a span of roughly twelve years, from childhood to
young adulthood. According to Aurand, she produced the film from a vast amount of footage she
had taken of her children growing up. A possible concept of this film is the change in behavior of
a young person over time, specially the loss of physical excitement and surge of psychological
curiosity. Further, I believe the concept is even more complex in that the film depicts this idea
subjectively through the eyes of Aurand and her memories. Aurand uses numerous methods to
convey this concept, including the structure in conjunction with visual composition, the coloring/
angles of the film, and the editing pace of each sequence.
Paulina depicts several sequences of Aurands daughter from various times in her youth.
However, these shots are shown out of sequence. The film starts of with shots of a young
Paulina, switches back and forth from shots of her as a small child to a young woman, and
returns to shots of the young Paulina. Aurand probably did this so that we would become
familiar with the rambunctious Paulina, and then contrast the daughters behavior from different
ages, rather than just watch her grow older. Close-ups of her face as a child and young adult are
juxtaposed when shown close together. As a young child, she plays around, skates, and smiles,
while an older Paulina sits solemnly, reads, and sleeps. This comes to us as a surprise after
watching a small child enjoy the world, and we continually see this contrast until the end of the
film. Aurand specifically shows close-ups of the older daughters face with lugubrious
expressions and her holding the book Truman Capote and a cellphone, while the younger
daughter takes chances climbing along the outside of stairs and hanging onto trees from her legs.
Not only does this show her lack of physical enthusiasm as a young woman, but her switch from
a curiosity with the outside world to her inner inquisitiveness and need for mental stimulation.
Coloring and angles also play an important part in this concept. Each shot of the older
Paulina is in black and white, while the shots of the younger Paulina are in color. Aurand was
probably trying to convey two things. For one, the black and white film of the older Paulina
makes her seem very dull (in addition to looking less lifelike because of the lack of color)
compared to the vibrant colors shown in the color film of the younger Paulina. For instance, the
older Paulinas face in a black and white shot seems to blend in with the background, while she
stands out with the rest of the environment in a color shot of her playing with the tree. Two, the
black and white film makes the older Paulina seem much more introverted and mentally
stimulated, while the color film puts emphasis on the younger Paulinas interaction with the
outside world. In regard to the angle of the camera, two shots stand out that exemplify Paulinas
change by filming from angles over the shoulder that shows her perspective (literally and
figuratively). One shows the young Paulina looking down far to the ground while hanging off the
edge of a stair rail, making it seem as if she wishes to explore the large world in which she lives.
This shot is juxtaposed with an over-the-shoulder shot of the older Paulina looking down at the
novel and cellphone, illustrating her changing interests and views.
The editing of the film in regards to the techniques used in every sequence show how this
concept is depicted through Aurands memories and in parallel with the pace of Paulinas
demeanor. Almost every scene is edited so that the camera jumps to the next location its
moving to. This appears to be how memories would be recalled, in short flashes, rather than
complete, chronological recollections. The jumping edits of the shots of younger Paulina are
much faster and disarranged, thus making Aurands memories very vast and fast-paced of young
Paulina, as well as making the pace of the sequences of young Paulina upbeat, just as she acts.
The edits of shots of older Paulina are slightly slower, thus making Aurands memories fewer
and slow of older Paulina, as well as making the pace of the sequences of older Paulina sluggish,
parallel to her lethargic behavior in the shots.
Aurands Paulina indeed evokes strong emotions through her persuasive techniques to
depict the development of a young child and their vicissitudes in behavior, while impelling the
audience to appreciate the active exploration and marvel of young children.