Hotel Babylon - Mise-en-Scéne

One way in which Mise-en-Scéne is used to present race is through the use of props. When Ibrahim has been captured the rest of the employees pack away his stuff including his uniform and photos of his family. The way that Jackie is packing away the photos of his family represents the fact that he now has no one and everything has been left behind including his other family who he worked with. This makes us sympathise with Ibrahim and the others as they have lost a part of their team. 

Moreover, when Jackie and the rest of the hiding employees run out to try and convince the immigration officer to let Ibrahim go the hotel manager calls Jackie's name and uses her body language to signal her to move the immigrants along as if she is brushing away like dirt. This again makes us realise who is on the side of the white people and makes us sympathise with the illegal immigrants as they are being treated extremely badly and unfairly. 

When the camera moves towards the prop, the hoover after Ibrahim has been taken away it shows that it is a symbol of Ibrahim and who he is, which is a cleaner. This also shows that he's not classed as much, the white immigration official steps over the hoover as if it is small and weak like Ibrahim. Which tells the audience that he is socially inferior and lower than the rest. 

Finally, another use of Mise-en-Scéne that the director has chosen is when Jackie locks the door and there is a close up of the key turning. This shows that the illegal immigrants are trapped and can't escape which again, makes us sympathise with the employees. The immigrants are all on the bottom floor whereas the legal employers are all on the top floor which creates a literal form of superiority against inferiority between the immigrants and the non immigrants. This makes the audience realise who is classes as a higher status and who is not, they also have to hide and can't be seen which shows that they are always on the edge of being taken away and have to be careful.