Dear Frankie

Dear Frankie is an Irish film from a few years ago. It is a beautiful portrayal of a single woman and her deaf son as a strange man enters their lives and shakes things up for them forever. One of my favorite moments in this film is when the mother and the stranger meet in the hall after their long day together. They stand in the doorway staring at each other for what seems like an eternity. The camera is completely static and the actors merely look into each others' eyes. There is no music and no dialogue. This creates a massive amount of anticipation and suspense. The viewer shifts uncomfortably in his seat, wanting the moment to end. At long last, they share a sweet kiss. This, for me, is an amazing example of "duration", a property found in some films to achieve a desired effect. The effect is different in each situation, but in this situation I believe that sense of anticipation is meant to reflect the anticipation that each character feels.
I would show this clip to a class and pay attention to the ways they react to the awkward silence and stillness. Then I would ask them what it did for them, as viewers, so see the situation portrayed that way. We could then discuss other ways duration affects the audience and what messages it can communicate.