Analysing Film Openings - Blood Diamond

Scene summaries - Blood Diamond

The film opens with a world map with Sierra Leone highlighted; there is then a voiceover explaining backstory information and the scenario the film is set in. The next we see a person trying to light a lamp, with the lamp being in shallow focus, the camera is then refocused to deep focus and we then see the man lighting the lamp. The man then moves to wake up his son for work, and there is dialogue between the man’s wife and the man. We are introduced to the family in the form of two shots with the husband being close to the son, with his hand on the sons head trying to wake him up, and the wife is shown lying down with the daughter who is still asleep.

There is then a series of establishing shots with the first being a sunrise over the African savannah, then an establishing shot of the sea with old fishing boats. We then see the father and son walking towards the beach and we can tell that they are very close to one another in the two shot and this shows that they are very close to one another as father and son.

Screen shot 1:

This begins with a map of the world with Sierra Leone dotted out. It then has a voiceover to provide context as to the importance of this country.

Screen shot 2:

This shot introduces the first main character. The shot used is a close up and it first begins with a shallow focus shot of the lamp then it focuses on the main character.

 

Screen shot 3:

There is another close up of him waking up his son. This is also a two shot but more subtle.

 

Screen shot 4:

There is then a two shot used to introduce his wife and daughter, with subtitles to translate what they are saying.

 

Screen shot 5:

This an establishing shot showing the setting of the film.

Screen shot 6:

This is another establishing shot, showing their jobs.

 

Screen shot 7:

This shows them arriving at work. A two shot is used to show the closeness between the father and the son.

 

Title and credits:

There are only two images used in the credits both for the studios.

What I learned

This is all about establishing - location, atmosphere and character. This is probably a classic film opening from that point of view. Almost nothing happens but we have a strong sense of a place and time. This is all about holding back in the opening.