Essay on the opening scene of 'Inception' By: Cleo Coogan

1. Inception
In the opening scene of the film Inception we are presented with a man dressed in casual
clothing being washed up on the beach. As this takes place, the music comes to a sudden
stop where there is a hyperbolic sound (exaggerated sound) of waves clashing against rocks
on the beach, this helps to set the scene and this is where the audience begin to know that
the film is set in the present day. Here is where an eyeline match is used to show the
protagonist looking in the direction of the children, figments of his imagination. The man
then see's to children, a special effect is used here to make the children appear like a dream
or a vision. As if he is hallucinating. The man is then taken to a very rich looking building
filled with individuals dressed much more smart and formal than himself. This represents
elements of Mise En Scene as it portraying this very unique and prestigious setting in the
film. This lets the audience know that the people inside are very rich and obtain the very
'fancy' lifestyle. This therefore creates a big contrast between the man who has been
washed up onto the beach. Here is when the audience become more intrigued with the film
and want to watch on further, as you want to find out when the man was washed up, why
he was on the beach and overall what he was meant to be doing, as he looks very confuse.
To open the scene a close up shot is used to show his expressions, and then a jump cut has
been used to switch to the main building, once again. More close ups are used on both of
what appear to be the main character(s) to show looks of confusion and nerves and then
distress and sorrow.
Continuing another jump cut is used to change to what looks to be the same building but
the man who was washed up on the beach is now dressed more formally, like the ‘richer’
and more ‘wealthy’ people from before. This switch of identity through the clothes he is
wearing creates a sense of mystery for the audience, which continues to draw them into the
film even more, to find out what has just happened to make the man change character. A
lot of match cuts from character to character are used in the clip to ensure the audience
that these will be the main characters of the filmand are going to play an important role.
However there is not a lot of sound to comment on in the opening scene of this film, except
the attention to detail, for example the focus on the sounds of the waves crashing against
the rocks on the beach. Overall I believe the opening scene to the filmInception is as
effective as it uses a range of Editing, Mise En Scene, Camera shots and sounds to create this
introduction of mystery, this sense of unusualness all to make up the well-known Thriller
opening, full of chaos and suspense.
By Cleo Ann Coogan