This document analyzes 17 shots from the film United 93. The shots are described in terms of what they connote or imply about the characters, situation and themes. Many of the early shots connote normality and establish the setting. Shots of the Muslim men both connote fear and humanity, allowing for more nuanced portrayals that avoid stereotyping. The analysis considers how the film uses techniques like lighting, camera angles and shot types to subtly shape the audience's understanding of events and the people involved.

1. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
United 93
Gianluca & Jake

2. SHOT 1:
The birds eye view of
the city connotes
normality, it also sets
the scene and shows
the audience the exact
location where the film
will later unravel.

3. SHOT 2:
This establishing shot
takes the audience further
in on the city which allows
them to experience the
scale of the city (connotes
the size of the city). The
tracking connotes a focus
on the tall buildings which
are relevant to the
narrative.

4. SHOT 3:
The medium close up of
the man connotes fear, the
man has his face in a bible
or prayer book, which we
instantly associate with
religion, and normally
when in fear people turn to
their faith for help.

5. SHOT 4:
This next shot allows
us to have reason to
believe that their faith
is very important. Their
kneeling connotes that
they are of the Muslim
faith, also the mats
gives further evidence
of this.

6. SHOT 5:
This extreme long shot
connotes a focus on the
tall buildings, the sun
connotes hope but
because it is setting it
connotes that there won‟t
be any hope for the city.

7. SHOT 6:
The close up of this
knife connotes violence
and it will be associated
with what the Muslim
men want. From this we
begin to see the
stereotype that some
people believe, “All
Muslims are terrorists”
due to the knife being a
violent instrument.

8. SHOT 7:
This medium shot
connotes fear because it
almost as if they are
saying „Good luck‟ to one
another. It also connotes
friendship and it gives the
audience two sides to their
opinion. It allows a passive
audience to view Muslims
differently.

9. SHOT 8:
This shot again
shows the faith in
action and this
close connotes
fear in the young
Muslim man. The
low key lighting
connotes danger
and a unstable
environment.

10. SHOT 9:
This long shot connotes normality and a
normal day. Everyone is oblivious of
what is going to happen. The lighting
has changed to high key which connotes
a safe environment, where people are
confident that they are safe.
SHOT 10:
This medium close up shows the
ordinariness of going to the airport
feeling tired and fed up. The shaky
cam reminds the audience of what it is
like to be standing there waiting in
queue.

11. SHOT 11:
The medium long shot shows the air hostess‟s.
This shot shows shows the people that will be
affected by the Muslim men. From the medium
long shot we can experience how all the
hostess‟s are feeling, we can see that they are
all happy which adds to the effect of normality.
SHOT 12:
•
This medium long shot to medium
close up connotes a normal day
at work. The tracks back allows
us to follow the conversation and
experience their emotions.

12. SHOT 13:
The medium close connotes
fear, we see one of the Muslim
men and from his facial
expression we can see that he is
scared of what he is about to do.
SHOT 14:
This two shot medium
close up of the other two
men also connotes fear.

13. SHOT 15:
These two medium close up
shots connote commonality.
It is very normal for people
to ring their families in order
to report on back on where
they are and what they are
doing. However, it also
displays the different types
of people who will be
affected.
SHOT 16:

14. SHOT 17:
This medium close up of the man
connotes humanity. The Muslim
man is human just like the rest of
the people around him, he also has
family and he isn‟t represented as a
soulless murderer. He has the same
emotions as everyone else and as
the film is from an independent
production company, it doesn‟t
represent Muslims as some
Americans do. In addition, even
though these men are about to
commit a horrific crime they are still
accounted for and we form two
opinions on them; a positive and a
negative opinion.