Film Opening 5: '71

'71

TITLES

Whether titles appear over the action or a blank screen varies, in this case after the idents, it is white on black screen. One can often connote the genre from the font and style, while it has some minimalistic serif attributes which often signifies comedy, it is a white writing on black screen, and it isn't bubbly. This connote a serious and non-comedic film, thereby signifying the genre drama.  The narrative has already started, as we can already hear the sound of boxing, fighting exasperated breaths and cheering. The information of who exactly has been fighting has been withheld from the audience, thereby creating narrative enigma, another common convention of a film opening.

...

SHOT 1

The narrative enigma is pursued further with a black screen

SHOT 2

A whip pan is being use to cut straight into  the action, we can see a green shirt

SHOT 3


While he has been already been on camera, the protagonist has now been introduced through a medium close-up. His journey throughout the whole film, one of brutality and bloodshed, is signified through the conflict. But the character he is fighting is not the antagonist, but the fact that he is fighting a member of the British army is a possible signifier of the revelation that the true enemy in this film turns out to be figures in the British army.



SHOT 4


Medium close-up of the protagonist, with other young males in the same clothes, who will remain throughout the film as minor characters.

SHOT 5

A slightly lower-angled medium longshot.








Throughout this scene the the protagonist does not speak, signifying his lack of change he can bring throughout the narrative.