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Sunday, 12 December 2010

Wallander (Firewall, MacCormick, 2008, UK) Analysis














Film Title:
This program was slightly different to films as it was a series program, as a result we saw the opening sequence before the title. But, when the title appeared it was still effective as it conveyed two very striking and symbolic colours being; yellow and black. Both of these colours are used when warning and danger signs are needed, this could symbolise that the program is dangerous or that something dangerous is going happen, drawing the audience in as they a inquisitive to find out what. Just before the title comes up you see a blade falling, as the title appears you also see a black object falling which would seem to be shaped as a knife similar to the one falling previously suggesting a link and that the knife is part of the danger, and, that it is also a key part of the program.

Setting/Location:
The opening sequence is set in a countryside with lots of grass and country roads, suggesting a remote area far from city life. This remote area creates fear and isolation for the audience as it seems like a place where anything can happen and nothing would be able to it from happening. Also, the setting is revealed as an extreme long shot meaning that the audience can just about about see the objects in the frame being, a white car and two people walking, this creates curiosity as the audience will ask why is the car stopped in the middle of nowhere? and why are those two people walking away? The setting is also revealed as gloomy and dark setting the tone for the opening sequence of negativity, making the audience on edge as they know whats going to happen next isnt going to be positive. On the other hand, the setting isn't very revealing as it doesnt show anything but trees and greenery, keeping the mystery about the area.

Costumes/Props:
The first thing you realise about what the characters are wearing is that they both seem to be wearing quite modern clothes as if they were from the city which goes against the stereotype of what people from the country would wear siggesting that they arent from around where they are. Thismake the audience uneasy about the two characters as they look out of place, placing suspicion on both of the characters. Also, one character who seems to be the older out of the two has black hair with pink streaks, a leather jacket on and black nails, these are all the stylings of a goth or what would seem to the audience as a rebellious teenager, providing the viewers with some idea of how they would expect her to act. The two characters have blood on their hands and faces linking to the car (taxi) where we see a man unconscious. This makes the audience ask whether the girls did it and if so why. At this stage you can see the two back doors of the taxi open meaning that the car wasnt stopped before the incident happend to the man, this suggests that the attack happend during transit meaning that the attack was planned. This makes the audience scared as they now realise that there's more to these two girls than meets the eye.

Editing/Camera Work:
The shots used are effective in setting the tone of the opening sequence as the first shot used; an establishing shot of the sea, looks gloomy with grey skies with the sea looking dull creating a dark and negative tone, making the audience feel depressed and unaware of what shocking thing they're going to see next. There is then a close up of the windscreen where you can see blood splattered on it, this focuses on the extremity of what has happened and makes the audience think that these two young girls can be responsible for such a brutal attack. Also, there is a close up of the man slumped on the steering wheel with the two girls blurred in the distance, this creates a subtle hint that the two girls are the people who have done this as the three characters are placed in the same shot linking them all together. Another shot that is effective is a extreme level close up of the meter suggesting to the audience that the man was taking them to a destination, telling the audience that the two girls havent met this man before and that he was innocent. As a result it makes the audience angry because there seems to be no logical reason for the attack on the man, and therefor the audience dont trust the two young girls. When the two girls are walking there is an extreme close up of them, the girl with the leather jacket has more blood on her face than the other and seems to have a facial expression of an adrenaline rush as if she enjoyed what just took place. Also in this same shot the other girl is slightly out of focus than the one with the leather jacket suggesting that she is more important than the other girl, and, that she is the leader of the two.

How The Opening Sequence Sets Up The Story:
The opening sequence sets up the story as it forces the audience to ask lots of questions making them want to know whats going to happen next. It does this by keeping the viewers with little information making htem feel unsettled and uneased because they dont know whats going to happen, they dont know due to the fact that the two girls have already combated stereotypes of teenagers being able to brutally attack a man, keeping the viewers on ege building suspense and tension.

Genre:
It is a thriller as it follows all the basic conventions including, tense music, mysterious characters, unknown settings and violence.

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