Disability in A touch of Frost

Within this clip disability is shown in many different ways. The first time we see one of the main characters, named Billy, is when he is shown walking along a road which is in the forest by a tracking shot. Due to using this kind of shot it allows him to stay in the centre of the screen showing his significance in the clip. He is seen dusting himself down in quite a clumsy manor which may be down to his disability. The fact that he is by himself could show that his disability does not limit independence. This scene is directly followed by a scene involving police with dogs and with the added music the audience sees that he may not be someone to trust.

The shot then changes. The audience can see him walk out in front of the police. The police are shown by a long shot making them easy to see. When he finally does see them his reaction is shown by a close up. Both shots are quite quick which could show that he is put into a situation where the only thing he can think to do is run like he is guilty of something that he may not be clear on, it also shows him as childish. As he runs in the opposite direction it is clear that the police can easily catch up with him but he does not realise this until they catch him. This shot is over very quickly to show how easily they get him. The camera is uneven which could show that Billy does not know what is really going on and is just running any where he can to get away from who ever is chasing him. When they do catch him, he falls to the ground and tries to get away from them yet again it is clear that he is not going to get away from them due to the close up shot. It is then followed by a close up of him saying 'I didn't do anything' again and again even though he does not know what he is denying, this could be shown as childish as children associate the police which doing something bad and automatically assume that they are going to arrest them no matter what they done.

The clip then changes setting which is shown by an establishing shot of the house which also uses panning. The house is seen to be surrounded by people and police. This could show that due to his disability they see him as a threat as they are all interested in what he has potentially done wrong. When the camera goes inside the house the audience sees Frost talking to Billy's father by a two shot. Frost explains that he will have to go in with him due to him being disabled. This again relates to being a child because they are meant to have an adult with them when they have an interview. Frost describes Billy as 'Mentally subnormal' showing that he looks down on him. It also shows that peoples views on disability has changed a lot over the years and this is also backed up with Billy's father calling him 'handicapped' which today is seen as not appropriate. Billy's mother then joins in with the conversation which is shown in a three shot and suggests that she should clean him up before he talks to Frost. This could show that he has limited ability to look after himself which goes against what the audience is first led to believe when they see him walk home alone at night.

They then enter the room and Billy's father explains what is going to happen in a very clear calm, reassuring voice, it sounds like the same manor to that of how you might speak to a child. Whilst he is talking he kneels down to Billy's level. Billy interrupts him saying yet again 'I didn't do anything'. This repetitiveness is again an example of how he could be described as 'childlike'. His father then moves back to allow Frost to sit in front of him and talk to him. Frost talks to him in the same manor and also lowers his head when talking to him which makes the audience feel that he is talking down to him like you would look down on a child. Him looking down on him could also show out of the two, even though they are both adults, Frost has the authority due to the fact that Billy has a disability. Their conversation is shown by using close ups. As each one of them talks the camera shows them and only them. This could show how different they are as people because one is able bodied and the other is disabled. Billy's father is always sitting in frame behind him through out the conversation which could show that Billy is often reliant on him. This point is backed up by the fact that sometimes he has the explain Billy's answers further. An example of this is when Billy explains that he came home from 'Workshop', the audience later find out this is where he works due to his father explaining this to Frost. He does not directly ask Billy what he means by 'workshop', instead he asks his father which could show Billy as untrustworthy or he may see him as childlike. When Frost finds this out he looks shocked, this could be because Billy is disabled and working. Billy also talks about 'the playground' with is a place where children go, yet he goes there regularly perhaps showing that he has the same mental capacity of that of a child. The clip ends with Billy repeating what he says again, this could again back up the point that he is seen as childlike, yet is may also show him as untrustworthy as due to him repeating himself it sounds like not only is he trying to persuade Frost that he did not see Trisha but it also sounds like he may be trying to persuade himself.