Analysis of Dirty Pretty Things

Okwe and Juan are dueling characters, but given equal placement throughout the film. Juan is the personification of the sordid city life and temptations these immigrants endure placed with Okwe to show how futile it is to resist. Okwe is a moral man trying to survive without giving into the pressures his current life surround him in. Juan is just an extension of immoral city living at the bottom, tempting the hopeless to meet his own ends. Juan could make it so these people lose everything, freedom/life, or gain everything, freedom, they need.

The first scene I have chosen to support my points is nine minutes into the movie Juan enters his office for the first time. He is soon joined by Okwe holding a human heart. It ends with Okwe refusing money and leaving. Second scene is thirty-five minutes into the film with Okwe entering Juan's office and finding two Somaliland men. Juan enters later not sure what Okwe is doing there. The scene comes to a close with the men not wanting to go to a hospital. Third scene is Juan calling Okwe into a room where a woman is undressed and waiting for the operation. The scene ends with Okwe holding an instrument towards Juan and storming out. My final Scene is Juan and Okwe is the parking deck.

Once Okwe enters he is framed into the window while remaining in the other room separate we are drawn to him more than Juan. Juan is also framed in the doorway, both men are meant to be shown as equals in these shots even though one man is far larger than the other. Even when standing face to face Okwe's posture and the framing of the shot makes it seem as though the men are the same. This is to set up their later ongoing fight, both sides are evenly matched. We as the viewer relate to Okwe far more than would could Juan and that is done intentionally. Even costume choices make Juan unlikable. He is tacky, a drunk, vain, not very bright, and always looking to sweet things under the rug. We learn all this about this man from one scene. He embodies all the things people do not like about the city.

Both men are alike in the fact they are not British naturally. This shows the spectrum of immigrant life and how much can change with a passport or a visa. In the end after Okwe is defeated and the authorities will not be involved he still refuses his money. The entire ordeal shook him, Okwe the doctor, is disturbed by the entire incident. Juan throws the heart out like a dirty diaper, a perfectly normal thing. Both men are alike in how the city life has hardened them, but Okwe does not embrace it.

The next office scene with the two Somaliland men in the chair. Okwe enters and tries to make conversation not know what is the matter. Juan enters knowing full well what has happened to these men and is totally indifferent. Is main concern is why Okwe is there. Juan starts walking into the room and the camera walks with him Okwe in toe. The camera loses Juan for a second then he walks back into frame and never stops moving. The entire time he's bobbing back and forth Okwe being totally still makes this stand out even more. The camera seems to bob with Juan making a sea kind of motion. Everything Juan does seems like an attack like he is always active looking for a week point. While Okwe is always on the defensive waiting for a strike.

Again both men are shot in a fashion that makes them seem completely in proportion. When Okwe admits he is a doctor, it cuts to Juan right away. Juan has found his weak spot on Okwe. Most people he can just dangle freedom in front of them and he has them. He tries to find week spots in Okwe though trying to get him to slip while speaking. Only under extreme circumstances when someone is suffering does he let his guard down. The cut shows that Juan is going to try and exploit him now, for reason we are not even aware of yet.

When Owke finally gets to the wound it is framed in with him, almost like he's holding it out for everyone to see. Juan is completely unmoved by this and not he makes it Okwe's problem and not his own. Touting his indifference knowing that he has now found Okwe's button to manipulate him. Juan's doorway stance also removes him from the situation. Okwe is powerless to resist helping this suffering man.

Next Juan calls Okwe do a room service call really just to get him to perform on a woman. Juan is in the doorway the moves back like a magician to reveal an undressed woman on the bed. Juan is always trying to place Okwe in a position where he cannot refuse. Once Okwe enters the room and the Juan short of pushes him towards the woman we do not see Juan any longer. While Juan is lightly pushing the camera pulls in on Okwe to further remove Juan from the scene. He is still talking, but removed from the scene. The effect of this is again distancing himself from the issue and trying to make it Okwe's issue. Once Okwe has him at scalpel point we see the their weapons. Juan only has to use words and remind Okwe of his station in this country. Okwe only has his wits and his strength. Temptation never directly makes you do anything it just puts you in a position where it is very hard to refuse. Juan continues to do this this time lashing out when he does not get the desired response.

The final scene that shows the duality of these two men. Juan is whistling again like he was in his first scene. Makes me wonder what he had done right before he came to work. He is stopped by a very fast Okwe, framed in such a way to show he's not going to move even if the car does not stop. We get this dash/hood of the car angel so it feels like we are driving, but more like we are along for the ride. The effect is to illustrate how dangerous Okwe's moving in front of the car is. Illustrating what kind of sour mood he is in. Cutting to Okwe as this looming Michael Myers figure over the car with small Juan sitting in total fear all alone inside the darkened car. Cutting again to a very unhappy looking Okwe lurking over the car then the camera pans down to show that Juan is not taking any chances. Again placing them on equal footing, because even an angry Okwe is not match for a tire iron.

The lighting strip that is behind Okwe's head creates this halo effect around it. When we cut to Juan the lighting strip skips around his head giving him no effect what so ever. The affect shows their opposition, one is armed one is not. One has a halo one does not. The effect of the halo is to make us focus on Okwe's dark face almost off setting each man from the background. Juan is given this empty space to better show off his pale completion. This surreal effect adds to the fear and anticipation of this scene. We are not sure what is going to transpire between these men, but making it separate from the other more mundane confrontations they have had makes it seem like things are finally going to come to a head between these two.

Juan is finally able to make Okwe see the futility of his plight. Juan is a poor mans Vader and Okwe is our Luke. Juan thinks he has finally gotten Okwe to concede defeat and join him. Showing that temptation is greater than his own will. When of course we know that he has other plans for the operation Juan has finally corrupted Okwe. Even if it is in a manner everyone involved, except Juan, can accept-evil is punished. Okwe is finally one of the dirty pretty things where as before he was able to remain clean. Yet in a city like this with men like Juan is their any other choice, but than to soil yourself.