RS: Film Language

The Dictator (Charles 2012)

• Mise en scene in clip shows real life clips of political leaders in the year 2012. It shows the seriousness of politics internationally and what things effect people every day.
• This is then used in a comical way by introducing the main character played by Sacha Baron Cohen who plays a stereotypical power hungry dictator of modern day. 
• He is dressed in bright white uniform covered in gold suggesting his obsession with looking important and making others know he is powerful and rich.
• Due to the camera shots being framed as if it was a news report the camera angles used are informative rather than dramatic and interesting.
• The news report shots are accompanied by narration from a news reporter who explains the actions taking place in the shots.
• From the dialogue in opening scene we learn that the main character General Aladeen is an unknown dictator from Wadiya (a fictional country). We learn about his power, wealth and that he does what he likes.
• The director Larry Charles also shows us a cut away shot of an everyday problem that the dictator General Aladeen has caused with is comical laws.