In the documentary, Jungle Janes, struggle was merely a product of the physical frustration caused by the irregular experience of the ladies' in the heart of the Brunei jungle. This is shown through the fact that they only truly began to struggle as the physical capability was worn down; these two factors were on opposite ends of the scale. The viewer was brought into the documentary by different film techniques, such as camera de piece, where the camera was one on one, so that the viewer could relate personally to the lady on screen. Also the choice by the director of the overall wide shots of the Brunei jungle at the commencement of the documentary gave the viewer an increased sense of struggle within the ladies on the expedition; this acted as a kind of superlative expression for the viewer to toil with. The predominance of the male leader, and as the narrator gave a impression of authority within the group; that he was within, although active from outside of the group.
Documentary Film Festival
ICentre Brunei Darussalam
Embraced by WordsThis gave the effect that the women were struggling even more as he was always firm and knowledgeable. The viewer was positioned by the text to a helpless state, where by only watching could see the struggle being played through. All of these aspects contributed to the main idea of physical struggle being the primary source of struggle within the documentary.
Struggle in the documentary: 'Jungle Janes' is given visually and audibly in the first instance. The blonde woman screaming and fighting the mountain gives the receiver an immediate viewpoint: physical struggle is evident. For it is physical struggle that is profoundly apparent in the instant that the documentary starts. The opening sounds and pictures juxtaposes the viewers expectations and therefore shocks the senses to just how great the physical struggle is. And, that is where struggle in this documentary is unleashed from. The director uses this opening scene as the point of eruption which unleashed the avalanche of struggle into the jungle in Brunei.
With a lack of physical struggle, only a sense of tension of long winded experiences would remain. This of course, may lead to other struggle, but not to the same extent as the epic voice of the Brunei jungle.
As the group embarks on the journey into the Brunei jungle, their minds; their focus, is on the group. Although, the director has given us, in a later scene, formal proof of the effects of struggle. As the journey becomes that of a long winded road to nowhere, the ladies start to focus on themselves; one lady questions whether to share her one last chocolate bar, where earlier everyone was sharing joints. Both where forms of relaxation, but the focus was shifted. Others begin to talk about their own feelings rather than the group dynamic, which was the main focus to the beginning of the documentary. This proves that where struggle is present, focus is shifted from the whole; the group, to the self. Unlike the ants working together for the group benefit (shown at the start of the film, giving a visual metaphor), the whole is scattered into many pieces, each more vulnerable then before, thus creating an opening for many classifications of struggle to become present. This incites mental, emotional, spiritual and other forms of struggle present through the reactions of the ladies to become present within the documentary The authoritative voice of the narrator; the male, seems to gives calmness and influence towards the women at the inception of the trek. He tries to predict the ladies reactions to certain situations and describes to the camera how the ladies will be feeling at that point in time: "Today the ladies will be feeling aggravated towards each other; they will begin to fight against each other for the easiest position." This type of calmness that he instills towards the start of the documentary begins to crumble towards the end, and is shown with the immense fight between the male and one of the women. This exhibits a fracturing of his authority and proves that everyone has a moment where they can no longer control themselves towards struggle, and the emotion struggle, incited by the physical in Jungle Janes', consumes them and they erupt their built up anger.
The mind can be controlled, but the person is weaker than the mind, thus discharged struggle will be ever present within any situation.
All of these techniques and effects are linked together to create a giant mesh of struggle, where physical struggle is the spark with enflamed the forest in terms of struggle.
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