Documentary Film Analysis: The Apology Line - Dir: James Lees

(Still) Title graphic from
 'The Apology Line' - Directed by James Lees

‘The Apology Line’ is a short documentary directed by James Lees. This short documentary tells the individual stories/apologies of anonymous members of the public that ring into the help like, The Apology Line. 

The Audio is a completion of contrasting apologies from a range of different people. The visual footage is a completion of people doing different actives in their everyday life in the evening/night. This is shot as an artistic fly on the wall style shot, showing people in underwear, getting dressed for bed, cleaning their home etc. This is also mixed with establishing shots of flats to give the scene a sense of an urban environment; this can be seen to give a lower class theme to the people talking on The Apology Line. The Documentary is also shot at night, which gives the apologies a connotation of dirty secrets that people would never say when people are around to hear.

 ‘The Apology line’ to me feels like a documentary on a modern take of the catholic practice of confession to gain forgiveness or to get a personal hypothetical weight off their chest. This documentary connected with me on an emotional level as I could feel the angry, regret and shame in the apologies. I really liked the tones, themes and how the film conveys these anonymous people’s stories. 

Watch 'The Apology Line' Here