Parallel Time Lines In Peter Howitt's Film Sliding Doors

All three films show alternate and parallel time lines. They express what if scenarios for the viewer. These films show how life can change depending on choices we make or time itself.

In Peter Howitt’s film Sliding Doors, Helen’s (Gwyneth Paltrow) life progresses after she misses/makes her train. Throughout the movie, there are sliding doors, which appear as a motif. It also shows that a significant event is about to occur or has taken place in Helen’s life. Howitt manipulates mise-en-scene by comparing Helen and James (John Hannah) with Gerry (John Lynch) and Lydia (Jeanne Tripplehorn). At the beginning of the film, Helen goes backward in time the after she misses the train first caused by the little girl in the stairway. It seems like they re-winded the film then paused and it continues the same way. The only difference is that the girl does not get in the way the second time and Helen gets on the train. Non-diegetic music helps convey the mystery and fantasy to the story.

In one of the parallel lives after getting fired from her job, Helen makes ends meet by working many part-time

The film is in chronological order, showing step by step the events that occurred and what it leads up to in the end. It is a closed narrative as the viewers know what is going to happen as it is all the same situations occurring, but with slightly different outcomes and uses restricted description. Melinda A going through a divorce, substance abuse, and fighting for custody. Melinda B has a wealthy and healthy life background. The audience can tell the difference between both since their body language and clothing are entirely different. We have close ups of Melinda when she first enters the home and crashes the dinner party which highlights that she is a significant character in the film. We have diegetic sound when the music is playing in the cafe and then non-diegetic sounds throughout with talking and