Cinematic techniques

Framing

In the short film “Baghdad Express”, Nimer Rashed includes a combination of medium shots and close-ups. Medium shots allow the audience to see both the characters’ body language and expressions, and the background.

Close-ups, also known as close shots, enable the audience to observe more details and suggest more intense emotions or personal relationships. At the beginning, different close-ups of Maya’s clothing and of her face (00:46-01:17) suggest her interest in fashion and foreshadow her interview. In Maya’s memories, we notice close-ups of the sewing machine (04:09), which suggests that Maya’s interest in fashion was inspired by her mother, who was probably a seamstress. Close shots of Maya’s face allow the audience to observe her facial expressions and understand her emotions better. A close-up of Maya’s face at the end, for example, allows viewers to notice her sadness, moments after she has burned the letter and given up on ...