This is my analysis of a typical romantic film called 'The Notebook'. this is part of my research for media studies

1. The colour red symbolises love and
passion but could also represent
danger. There is this contrast with
the dark trees and the sun. The sun
symbolises warmth and hope, the
hope of the woman getting her
memory back. The trees could
represent the memory loss (the
female characters mind)
Establishing shot to show the
audience the location of where the
film is shot and where they are.
The sunset creates
this mood of
intimacy and
closeness therefore
we are aware in the
first few seconds this
is a romantic genre
film
Non-diegetic sound at the beginning
which creates this calm and smooth
atmosphere. Classical music is
played, low pitch using string
instruments and piano
There were jump
cuts as we get an
establishing shot
and then a man
rowing on a boat
back to the
establishing shot.

2. The protagonist is
immediately
introduced in the film
a typical conventions
that occurs in this
genre type.
There is still non-diegetic sound
used and this creates a suave mood.
Classical music is played.
The bird could represent the freedom that she used
to have. Alternatively it shows her desperation of
wanting to be free from her illness. She is also looking
from inside the window which again shows lack of
freedom. The colour red in this image symbolises
sadness, that she is in unhappy due to her lack of
freedom, illness and old age
This is a mid-shot, we
are able to see the
location and her facial
expression. She looks
blank and unwell which
makes us feel
sympathetic towards
her. This triggers
emotion and therefore
fulfils the key
conventions of a
romantic genre film
An eyeline match is
used here. we get a
close up/ mid-shot of
the female protagonist
looking outside, the
camera shows us what
she is looking at and
then we get this same
shot again

3. The protagonist is introduced
and we see a close up shot of
him therefore we are able to see
his facial expressions. By the
look on his face we can see that
he looks rather motivated and
determined.
The glasses and the grey hair
represent old age therefore the
audience will portray him as
vulnerable and fragile.
There is a voice over at this part of
the opening. The voice over is used
to clarify the audience what is
happening. This is a key convention
that is used in the romantic genre
film. This is diegetic sound
We get a long shot to
establish the location of
where the male
protagonist is. We see
that he is in a hospital
and we naturally
associate him as being
ill.

4. The white hair represents old age.
However, the female protagonist is
wearing red. The colour red is being
used constantly as it just simply
symbolises love
The pearl necklace and earrings
suggest that she is a well-mannered
woman, a stereotype of a
characteristic that an old person
should have
In this scene she is
asking questions
about to the male
protagonist. This
emphasises her
illness of memory
loss and makes the
audience feel
sympathy for her
We get a mid-shot, we see
that she is in a care home.
Moreover, we are able to
see her facial expression
and identify that she is
extremely confused this fits
in with the idea of being
old and ill

5. This image fulfils the
romantic genre as it is full
of happiness and
laughter. We have a mid –
shot/ close up of her
laughing, by looking at
her we can say that she is
full of joy
The colour red just emphasises her beauty and
takes us back in time when she was young and
fashionable. She was wearing a preppy outfit which
suggests that she is an outgoing girl has a lot of self -
confidence. Furthermore, we see that she has red
hair, this could symbolise that she is an assertive,
aggressive and fierce woman
We get an action match of her of
her laughing hysterically and riding
the bumper car. This increases pace
and creates this warmth and
happiness. Also, it could emphasis
her personality, being all over the
place and simply enjoying
everything
There is diegetic sound of the
woman laughing hysterically.
We can hear this over the
conversation that the boys are
having. This laugh and
happiness follows the key
conventions of a romantic film.