Opening sequences analysis (kill bill vol 1)

I will be analysing the opening sequence for kill bill vol 1 using the four main technical aspects, mise-en-scene, editing, cinematography and sound. I will see how the four technical aspects create enigma, and how it contrasts genre, setting, characters, mood and storyline.

Mise-en-scene: The mise-en-scene within this opening sequence creates enigma as the wedding veil symbolises that it is a happy day, a day when everyone gets together but the action within this scene conflicts with the idea of the wedding veil this lures the audience to watch more. The genre is shown through mise-en-scene because a gun is implied making it action but the killers identy is hidden with only the clue of his handkercheif embroided with the name bill. With the wedding veil being shown this would suggest that the characters are in a church or place of marriage e.g. a registary office. The characters are apparent in the nature of who they are as in the woman is the protagonist and the person who's identy is hidden, is the antagonist the implied gun that he supposed to have. With the conflicting props of the veil and the gun it creates a sinister mood around the action taken place. The storyline is not revealed or given much away, all the audience can understand from the mise-en-scene that these two people have an issue with one another.

Cinematography: The camera is set as a close up/point of view shot and at a high angle as if the character is looking over her within the first shot. This shot sets a fearful mood as it shows the pain and fear within the character which then makes the audience feel as if something bad is going to happen. The worms eye view of the shoes walking shows that the setting is within a building. The original shot is then replayed but more to a point of view which shows the storyline and the characters by showing that the protagonist is inferior or weaker to the antagonist as the antagonist is at a very close distance to the protagonist and her facial expressions show disgust and reluctance with the antagonist's touch through the use of close-up. The genre is not clearly shown through the use of the camera but the intimacy within the close-up can be directed towards an action thriller as the fear is shown and the blood is shown closely but the person doing the violence is never revealed within the shots. This then connects to the enigma being created cause no matter what shot there is never a clue to what the antagonist looks like and what is intentions are until the very end.

Sound: The setting is not revealed through the sound. Enigma is created through the dialogue of the protagonist having paniced breathing as it puts the audience on edge and encourages them to watch more as they want to find out why she is in fear. The genre is revealed through the use of the gunshot and the dialogue being cut off at the end which seemed vital towards the plot, this creates a mystery with violence so it would best suit action thriller genre. The dialogue tellls the characters names so the audience has a faint idea of who these characters are. The dialogue suggets that the mood is very tense as the heavy breathing mixed with the very calm attitude to the antagonists dialogue shows that this is not a comfortable situation for the characters. The sound shows conflict between the characters as it shows they know each other and from the apparent panic in the protagonists voice, not on good terms. This reveals the plot by showing that they are connected and the story is going to be based around them two.

Editing: The editing does not show the setting. The action match between the protagonist looking at his feet and his feet walking creates a mood of foreboading as the audience is expecting something bad to happen. The cut to the title sequence creates an enigma as the audience never see what happens next or hear the protagonist finish her sentence properly so it creates a curiousity within the audience. The action match edit shows the connection between the characters but the editing does not reveal the characters relation and it even stops the scene from revealing to much about them. The black and white colour scheme creates a ominous feeling towards the film which suggests that the genre is of a dark charachter i.e. thriller. The editing does not show the story plot but does hender the audience from knowing it as it cuts into the end of the event which seems to be key to the film plot and cuts out before it is resolved.