Birds
Bird imagery plays an important role in the film. Not only is the school mascot of Palmetto Grove the hawk, but the school also has an aviary where Hugo spends a lot of his time. In the aviary, Hugo sits among doves as he cares for the hawk, suggesting that he is the disrupter of peace and tranquility that the doves represent.
Isolation
At the beginning of the film, after O scores the game-winning basket, the team hoists him up into the air. Hugo stands apart from the entire team, looking on with jealousy. Hugo's physical isolation from the rest of the team reflects his feelings of jealousy while also foreshadowing his plan to destroy O's reputation.
O's Injury
During one of the basketball games, O falls and lands on the floor of the basketball court. The area around him is painted red, and the camera lingers on this image of O sprawled out against a red background. This image foreshadows the bloodshed that is to come, as well as O's personal fall from grace.
Blocked View
In the gym, when Hugo first puts the thoughts into O's mind about Desi's infidelity, the camera does not provide the audience with a clear view of Hugo. Instead, his face is obscured by shadows and different machines in the weight room. This fragmented imagery suggests that Hugo is not a trustworthy character and that he is hiding something from O.
