Love Me or Leave Me Alone

Love Me or Leave Me Alone (2003) is a short film directed by Duane Hopkins. The film on one level is simply a short love story of the couple who argue, fall out and go their separate ways, only to get back together again at the end. Clearly the themes present in the film are teenage love, sex and changes. The directors primary aim i believe was to express these themes as raw and realistic as possible and also to capture the themes through specific techniques.

I enjoyed the film and thought it flowed nicely. I thought the director was successful in capturing the subject matter and achieving his aims. He effectively showed both sides, not only of the relationship from each characters perspective but also both sides of most teenage romances with its ups and downs.

I particularly found the directors approach to the subject matter of the relationship interesting, he represented the all round nature of the relationship through certain techniques. For instance the relationship is constantly changing, which he portrays simply through through lighting, the change form night to day for instance. He also effectively represents the simplicity of teenage relationships through the mise en scene and sound. For example Steven uses a bike to catch up with Jess, rather than a car, of which many hurtle past him on the road to emphasise this. His use of sound in particular diagetic, also aid in representing the simplicity as he doesn't include a soundtrack to create this atmosphere.

The films gritty realist style significantly assists in presenting the the simple nature of the couples relationship at their age. The linear structure also adds to the simplicity but also helps represent the journey of the couples relationship, from the beginning to the end to show the changes and ups and downs that happen.