The document analyzes the cinematography, editing, and mise-en-scene techniques used in the opening sequence of Christopher Nolan's film Memento. It notes that extreme close-ups are used to emphasize symbols and create tension. Shots are still with some craning and tilting to add suspense. Dark lighting, key props like polaroids and a bullet, and Leonard's suit contrasting with his surroundings further the suspense. Non-linear narrative and a backwards developing sequence distort events and confuse the viewer about what led to the death of the unknown man. Slow pacing and calm music contrast with distressing images to unnerve the audience.

1. M E M E N T O

2. C A M E R A W O R K

3. S H O T S
• Mainly close ups and extreme close ups
• Places emphasis on key symbols
• Creates a sense of tension as the viewer isn’t sure what
the images represent
• However, we use our own cultural connotations to
assume things about the film—our assumptions allow
Nolan to effectively execute his ‘twist’

4. Nolan uses this
close up alongside
the reverse time
shot to represent
Leonard’s Disease.
Like this polaroid,
his memories fade
as the scene
continues.

5. M O V E M E N T
• Most shots are still
• However, Nolan uses craning and tilting to add
suspension
• The viewer has to wait to see who’s holding the
polaroid

6. Nolan creates
suspense through
panning up to reveal
Leonard’s face. This
also allows the viewer
to create their own
associations with
Leonard’s clothing
and actions with the
polaroid, before
revealing the man
behind the action.

7. M I S - E N - S C E N E

8. L I G H T I N G
• Darkly lit
• Typical of thriller films
• Adds to the suspense as it’s more difficult to see what’s
happening
• Adds an air of illegality and of secrecy to the opening
sequence

9. The shot is tilted vertically, and the blood seems to
run upwards in this shot. This once again
emphasises Leonard’s condition, and also blatantly
reveals the violence, and the distortion of
Leonard’s memories and opinions—due to his
disease.

10. P R O P S
• Montage of several key props
• Polaroids, Bullet, glasses, the dead person
• Creates a sense of tension because of our associations with these items
• Polaroids: documentation
• Bullet: death, guns, violence
• Glasses: intelligence, helplessness—hint at the fact that the man is actually
innocent
• The dead person’s face cannot be seen—a mystery as we don’t know who
has been shot

11. The Bullet represents
violence, death, and the
process of rebirth for
Leonard
The glasses represent how
Leonard destroys
knowledge through killing
his victim
The victim’s identity is
hidden—which adds to the
enigma

12. C H A R A C T E R
• Leonard is wearing a suit
• Contrasts to his surroundings
• Tension created by this juxtaposition
• Nolan is implying that Leonard shouldn’t be in this
type of environment—killing the wrong man

13. Leonard’s suit is disparate with his surroundings, the
viewer associates suits with businesses, and wealth,
which contrasts to the grime and darkness of the setting
of the opening scene.

14. E D I T I N G

15. C O N T I N U I T Y
• Non-linear narration is used—the events in the opening
sequence occur at the ‘end’ of the linear timeline
• Shot in reverse
• Adds to the tension as the viewer is curious about what has
happened that has led to the death of the unknown man
• Contributes to the theme of amnesia and Leonard’s disease
• Like the polaroid, Leonard’s memories also fade instead of
developing

16. The opening is shot in
reverse, to distort, and
confuse the viewer.
Nolan also employs non-
linear narration to create a
sense of suspense, as
viewers constantly wonder
how events culminated to
this, and create our own
assumptions to fill in these
blanks

17. PA C E
• Majority of the opening sequence is a film developing
backwards
• The image is grotesque—the dead man’s head
• Slow paced, and calm
• Juxtaposed with the moderately fast pace of the shooting
in reverse
• Creates tension as the viewer is lulled into a false sense of
security

18. S O U N D

19. N O N - D I E G E T I C S O U N D
• Starts with deep, non-diegetic music
• Is sustained and slow—lulls the viewer into comfort
• Music remains moderately slow throughout the opening
sequence—contrasts to the distressing images on the
screen
• The killer is calm—unsettles the viewer
• Sound effect of the gun going off—creates a sense of
tension because of the contrast to the music used