Macro Analysis of Ape

Ape is a psychological drama starring Josh Hutcherson (who also directed the film), Savannah
Jayde, Maddie Hasson, Rebecca Pidgeon, Scott Patterson and Austin Lyon. Travis Wilker played by
Josh Hutcherson is battling schizophrenia that he has had since childhood; the film shows the
struggle he faces everyday of having to battle his hallucinations.

The narrative of the story is in first person, this allows the audience to be more involved with the
character and therefore see how Traviss mind works. The narrative is also very sensitive; it looks at
the mind of the main character, Travis. This incorporates
personality, thought, reason, memory, intelligence and
emotion. Primarily the mind is used as the location to
demonstrate the narrative conflict, where Travis is battling
his own mind hallucinations. Suspense is built up in the
film through the hallucinations he is having which is of a
woman who is preying upon him and which is destroying
his mental state.

The film presents Travis to be suffering silently with the severe schizophrenia he is battling. This is
shown in the film through him never speaking out to anyone about how he is feeling. This is also
implied when he is shown as an outsider and the audience feel sympathetic towards him as he is not
only being victimised by his hallucinations but also his peers who take the mick out of him, adding to
his stress and anxiety.The genre of the film is a psycholoical drama, this is identified through
location, camera movement, editing and themes. The film is set in an urban area, a real location
which creates realism for the audience which makes them feel more connected to the emotions and
life of Travis. The camera movement is a significant aspect of the film as it prodimantly builds up the
tension in the film. The camera movement is never from Traviss perspective, which when looking at
the film, I initally found quite unusual as you would assume as the film is all from Traviss perspective
the camera movement would correlate with this. However the camera movement and editing is still
very effective as the camera follows him so the audience still get a clear insight.

Themes that are highlighted in the film are

perception which focuses on Traviss own
perception of the world around him. In context
he thinks that everyone around him thinks he
is different and wont accept him. He is seen as
weird and an outsider. This is shown in the
film through Travis attending a house party
where everyone at the party ignores him and
makes fun of him, accept one girl who is intrigued by him and reassures him that she wants him
there. The film also touches on identity, Travis doesnt really know who he is and cant accept
himself. More signficantly the theme of the mind is what stands out in this film, Travis is constantly
in conflict with his mind and he struggles to allow himself to relax or feel happy as the hallucinations
he is having are always niggling away at him.
The most significant aspect of the film is the girl
he is seeing whilst having his hallucinations. She
is the most vital, negative element of the film to
convey Traviss thoughts. She follows him
wherever he goes, dictates all situations and is a
constant strain on his life. The audience can see
the distress she is causing him, they see him
taking his medication in the morning and the
groans and sighs he makes convey it is a exhausting him. The audience feel sympathetic towards him
because even at the dinner table with his parents she is always there making him feel uneasy. This is
sensitive to the audience because it shows how pyshcological factors can break people away from
their families and peers. The audience can relate to this whether its them who have experienced it,
or they know someone who has gone through something similar.

Societys dominant ideology is primarily that men are the stronger sex both mentally and phyisically.
However clearly the film is showing how men do suffer too from mental illnesses and it challenges
this stereotype in a postivive way as it makes people more aware that mental illnesses affect both
sexes. Also it gives people an insight into how it is difficult to identify when someone is suffering and
how easy it is to hide, additionally avoiding the whole stigma around mental illnesses.