Opening sequence analysis of the film.

1. Film opening sequence
analysis
"Léon: The Professional "
AS LEVEL
MEDIA STUDIES
KUZICHEVA
VARVARA

2. Introduction
French film "Léon: The Professional" was made in 1994, written
and directed by Luc Besson, produced by Patrice Ledoux. Titled
"Leon" in United Kingdom and "The Professional" in United States.
Spoken in English language.
The leading actors are Jean Reno(Leon), Gary Oldman(Norman
Stansfield), Natalie Portman(Mathilda). It was Natalies film debut.
Plot synopsis: Leon – a professional hitman, who takes in a twelve-
years-old Mathilda after her family was murdered by Norman
Stansfield. They form an unusual relationship, as
Mathilda becomes Leon's protégé and learns hitman's trade.

3. Genre/
Themes
Leon is an action thriller film, but audience only
figures that out after 10-20 first seconds, when music
changes and we see busy streets,suburban areas and
name of the area - "Little Italy" - because Italy is
usually associated with mafia and danger. These are
the key conventions that are used in triller film.

4. Camera
The first camera shot is of a water surface and then the camera
pans over the trees/park. Next shots – complete opposite from the
first shot, its where the genre is actually being revealed. Then
we see an establishing shot as camera goes up and reveals
the skyline of New York. Establishing shot is used for audience to
see and remember the location.
Then camera cuts to the busy streets and suburban areas(- as said
earlier - key convention of thriller movie) and pans through the road
above car height, at the end gets to "Little Italy" while camera tilts
up and zoom in the banner "Welcome to Little Italy". After a cut we
see restaurant "Supreme Macaroni co", after that camera zooms at
a fast pace inside the door of the restaurant into blackness.
Inside the café we don’t see the main character straight away, first
shot is an extreme close up of Leon hands, to get out attention to
the fact that he placed them around a glass filled with milk on a red
and white checked table cloth – which are mostly used in small
restaurants, local. Seeing a grown male drinking milk is
unexpected, but it also gives us clues about his personality.
In next cut we see a close up shot of Benny smoking, where the
main focus is kept on a cigarette. This prop hints to us about the
community Leon lives/works in.

5. Mise en scene
The setting for the movie is New York, as evidenced by the opening sweeping shot of
the city skyline, the street sign reading "Welcome to Little Italy," and a deeper dive into
a restaurant called "Supreme Macaroni Co." The lighting is quite natural and bright,
evoking an ordinary scene in the establishing shots of the sea, trees, and city. Contrarily,
the images taken inside the restaurant "Supreme Macaroni co" made use of artificial
chiaroscuro lighting to create a more tense and somber environment.
In his black sunglasses with a reflection of a person named Benny sitting at a table with
a red checked cover and a bottle of drink whilst lighting a cigarette, Leon is costumedas
the character. To avoid his identity from being revealed, something is added to cover his
eye. The viewer is left wondering who the character is and who the person smoking is,
which creates mystery.

6. Sound
While an white credits are displayed over a black
background, the soundtrack's overall mood is one of calm
and kindness. As the camera follows across the ocean, a
violin playing at a high pitch is added, which could have been
done to evoke a sense of travel. Flute and pipe instrument
sounds are added to the music as the camera moves through
the city's busy streets.Up until the scene wherein Leon and
his Benny are presented to the general public inside the
restaurant "Supreme Macaroni Restaurant," the soundtrack
is still blaring throughout the opening.
The only sounds used during the discussion between these
two men are sources of noise. To highlight the man smoking,
the sound of the cigarette being ignited is amplified. The
burning of the cigarette is accentuated when the man
smokes, contributing to the significance of his smoking.
When a cigarette is put out in the ashtray, it is thought to be
done.