Film beginning analysis

1. Film Beginning Analysis
CitizenKane (1941) - Directed and Writtenby Orson Welles,StudioRKO
Back to the Future (1985) - Directed by Robert Zemeckis,WrittenbyRobert Zemeckisand Bob
Gale,Spielberg
WhenHarry Met Sally(1889) - Directed by Rob Reiner,Writtenby Nora Ephron, Studio MGM
They’re complete opposites:Sallyisseeminglyperfectandhasher life together –she talksabout her
future andhow she alreadyknowswhatshe’sdoingwithit.However,Harryhasa more practical
viewonthings andis more haphazard/seeminglyslapdashwithhisapproachtothingsseenwhenhe
spitsat the windowwithoutthinking.Hisappearance andpersonaisthencomplicatedwhenhe
beginstotalkabout dark sidesandshowsthathe probablyputsmore thoughtin thingsthanhe
seems.
The Graduate (1967) - Directed by Mike Nicholls, StudioMGM
The camera constantlyfollowshimsuggestinghe’sthe maincharacterthroughout. Lookinginto
distance – consideringfuture,whattodo next.Notlookingstraightintocamera–doesn’tknow
what’scomingnext. Conveyerbeltispushinghimtowardsmetaphorical future nomatterwhat.
People rushpast – theyknowwhat theywantand where they’re going,he doesn’t.Bland
background – bleakfuture.
The onlytime that he isn’tin frame is whenwe see hissuitcase.Thisisgreyandplainjustlike him.
Flashof red on it – elementof fear? –Scaredof what’sto come next. Thisisshortlyfollowedbythe
sign‘dotheymatch?’ Relationshipsymbol.
Facial expressionremainssolemn –he’snothappyaboutbeinghome.Wearingasuitto go home,
suggestshe isnot comfortable there.
Everyone pairedwithpeople apartfromhim.
Gets home andface still solemn - unhappytobe there. Fishtanksuggestscontainment –he’s
trapped.