The document summarizes the opening scene of the film Kill Bill. It analyzes the camera work, cinematography, sound design, and music choices. The close-up shots of the Bride's face introduce her as the protagonist and victim. The black and white cinematography and downward camera angles establish the dark and tragic mood, as well as who holds the power in the situation. The sound of breathing, gun loading, and sudden gunshot keep the audience on edge, while the music hints at the relationship between the Bride and her assailant Bill.

1. OPENING SCENE

2. CAMERA USE
Throughout the scene,
there is a close up shot of
the bride’s face. This helps
the viewer connect with
and sympathise with the
character, and tells us
immediately who the
protagonist is and who the
antagonist is.
The way the camera looks down on The Bride while the unseen Bill is implied to be
standing over her shows us who is in control of this situation. Bill has the authority
and the power while The Bride is his victim, hence why we are looking down upon
her.
The use of black and white reflects the despair and tragic mood of the scene.
This therefore makes for quite an odd inclusion into a martial arts movie and
challenges the conventions. Despite primarily being an action film, this scene
is more typical of a thriller.
Black and white can also portray nostalgia: do The Bride and Bill have
history? Is this a flashback?

3. The sound bridge of The Bride’s heavy breathing both prepares
and entices the audience; it creates quite a ghostly, worrying
atmosphere and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat for
what’s to come.
Bill’s voice overlaps The Bride’s breathing, and despite having a
calm and reasonable voice, his words are quite threatening –
especially his ironic ‘Do you find me sadistic?’ which is almost
teasing The Bride.
When Bill loads his gun, we’re treated to the gentle sound of the
bullets entering the chamber. This again contradicts his
reassuring voice; we know what he’s about to do, yet the sudden
gunshot makes us jump.
Finally, the placement of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘Bang Bang (My Baby
Shot Me Down)’ is both ironic and fitting to the scene. Although
we don’t yet know what their relationship is, the word ‘Baby’ in
this song hints towards it.
SOUND