The document summarizes key elements of the opening scenes of the film Memento. It describes close-up shots of a man shaking a Polaroid photo that does not develop, creating mystery. Slow, calm instrumental music plays in contrast to graphic close-up shots of a murder that are shown in reverse order. The music builds tension as the volume and pace increase, climaxing at the shot of a gun. Later scenes change to black and white, diminishing the power of characters through high angle shots that suggest a loss of power compared to low angle color shots.

1. Memento also starts with a series of close ups; the close ups focus on a mans hand which continually shakes a Polaroid photo but the photo doesn’t develop the picture diminishes the more he shakes it. This is done to create mystery at the start of this movie; this is backed up by the slow calming instrumental in the background - non diegetic. The calm music and the very slow cutting rhythm contrast the picture which is of blood and drama which we would normally associate with up tempo music and a quicker cutting rhythm. 4504055262191545231051446530-952500-190500 After the Polaroid the film comes alive to the audience as the audience sees four further close ups; blood on a wall, a bullet, blood on glasses and the head of a dead man who has just been shot, the audience also realise that the film starts in reverse and they have just witnessed a murder. The close ups are used also to create mystery and also make the audience active in making up their minds about what has happened. The snapshots are very graphic and this gives us the first indication of the films genre - thriller. This part of the opening also uses the same non – diegetic music as the previous but the music seems to play a bigger part in this horrific scene as the diegetic sounds of the gun are drowned out by the music this builds up tension as the volume of the music increases and the momentum of the music quickens this is backed up by the quickening of the cutting rhythm - which climaxes at the shot of the gun. -697230195580 -63627075565 762000223520 377126524130 As the film progresses the colour changes to black and white and this seems to be used to diminish the power established by the character in colour. This can also be seen in the contrasting shots used in both colours in black and white the director uses a high angle shot looking down upon the character which could symbolise a loss of power and dominance – this can also be seen in the fact that the character doesn’t command screen space. When in colour the director chooses to use a low angle shot looking up at the character – who also commands most of the frame - suggesting he has the power. The use of black and white also suggests nothingness and ads and eerie feel to the shot. -829945-533400 -678180196850 -1458595363855