The opening sequence of Raging Bull starts with calming music and shots of a boxer warming up in the ring, in order to put the audience in his mindset of focus and relaxation. Though boxing involves physical contact, the director uses the music and portrayal of the boxer's devotion to imply an elegant beauty to the sport. Scenes of the boxer pacing the ring emphasize his serious, compelling attitude toward fighting as he waits for his opponent. The black and white coloration establishes the story's time period in the past and enhances the film's believability as a true story from that era.

1. Raging Bull (1980)
In this presentation, I will be explaining the opening to Raging
Bull.

2. The opening starts with calming music along with shots of the boxer
warming up and shadow boxing in the ring. This is used to try and put the
audience in the boxers mind, which presented in a sense of being relaxed
and focused on what he's doing.
The music also brings elegance and beauty to the sport although it has
physical contact. The director creates this effect to imply the beauty
through the characters eyes and show his devotion to the sport.

3. The boxer is seen walking up and down the ring implying he's waiting
for his opponent and gives emphasis on the idea of him staying in
focus and only thinking about the fight. This again shows the
seriousness of his character and his compelling attitude in what he
does.

4. The colour of the opening is in black and white showing that this is a story from
the past, which gives the audience a better understanding of this time and
narrative. The film is based on a true story, so the director has used this colour
to make it more believable and like a real accurate story. This colour is also used
for the audience because at this time black and white was the only colour in
television. I think the director is trying to recreate this effect for the audience to
see the film the way it would be presented in that period.
The sequence is a long take with only an extreme long shot used to create the
idea that you are sitting in the audience witnessing this fight as you can see the
crowd at the same level on the other side.