Analysis of Anna Karenina opening sequence
Anna Karenina is a British drama film which was directed by Joe Wright and adapted by Tom Stoppard from the 1877 novel of the same name which was written by Leo Tolstoy. The film follows the life of married aristocrat Anna Karenina as tragedy ensures as she becomes involved in an affair with Count Vronsky. The film was produced by Working Title Films in association with StudioCanal,and was released in the UK on the 7th of September 2012.
Sounds
The opening sequence of the film features non diagetic orchestral music which connotes a classical tone or feeling allowing audiences to establish that the films setting isn't contemporary. As the scene progress one can hear the diagetic sounds of the russian language, this allows audiences to instantly identify the setting of Anna korenina as russia. Not only this but with the orchestral music playing in the background audiences can establish that the setting is in fact "old Russia". Furhtermore the orcestral music connotes an afluent setting and allows audience to generate an idea of the class of the characters they're about to be introduced.
The music eventally fades into a more sombre to fit in with the sad scene the audience can currently see; a woman weeping. This emphaises the sad tone of the scene and allows audiences to feel empathy towards this character, however no speech is uttered durng this scene; this may have been the case to engage audiences in the narritive of the fillm, to carry on viewing the scene as it progress'.
As the opening sqeuence progress' we the audience can see a toy train driving, this train is overlayed with a real train likewise with the sound. At first audiences can hear the sounds of a toy train but it is then overlayed by a real one to convey a transition of location successfully.
Mis en scene
The film uses a traditional theatre like stage which features a floral, regal pattern. The use of such a feature connotes how the film is set as if its a play at a high end theatre. In additon this floral stage further reinforces the idea of afluence as previously established by the classical music. In terms iof costumes the characters we are introduced to wear puprle formal dresses, corsets and luxious items such as jewelery, fur and gilded clothing. From this audiences can establish not only that the film is a period as evidenced by the classical and formal fashion but the costumes also convey the characters wealthy status as items such as fur and gilded clothing were very expensive, even the colour purple conveys the characters socail class as wearing the colour purple bears connotations of extravagance and being of royal status.
In terms of props one significant prop is the note written in decorative handwritting which further establishes the period setting of the film and also conveys how these characters are wealthy since during the time which the film is set education was very exclusive to those of upper class so to be able to write such a note in such a decorative way one would have to be educated.
Additionally as the opening sequence progresses we the audience can see Russian type on one of the walls of the set this further indicates that the narritve will be based in Russia.
Camera angles/editing
The opening sequence feautres a numeber of camera angles to engage the viewer such as many tracking and panning shots to change from location to location following the many set changes in the background which further explores this theatrical theme. This causes scenes to be much more busy and show the transition of time successfully. Moreover through editting in the opening sequecene one can see footage of a toy train which match cuts to a real train; this conveys a shift in time and location.
The music eventally fades into a more sombre to fit in with the sad scene the audience can currently see; a woman weeping. This emphaises the sad tone of the scene and allows audiences to feel empathy towards this character, however no speech is uttered durng this scene; this may have been the case to engage audiences in the narritive of the fillm, to carry on viewing the scene as it progress'.
As the opening sqeuence progress' we the audience can see a toy train driving, this train is overlayed with a real train likewise with the sound. At first audiences can hear the sounds of a toy train but it is then overlayed by a real one to convey a transition of location successfully.
Mis en scene
The film uses a traditional theatre like stage which features a floral, regal pattern. The use of such a feature connotes how the film is set as if its a play at a high end theatre. In additon this floral stage further reinforces the idea of afluence as previously established by the classical music. In terms iof costumes the characters we are introduced to wear puprle formal dresses, corsets and luxious items such as jewelery, fur and gilded clothing. From this audiences can establish not only that the film is a period as evidenced by the classical and formal fashion but the costumes also convey the characters wealthy status as items such as fur and gilded clothing were very expensive, even the colour purple conveys the characters socail class as wearing the colour purple bears connotations of extravagance and being of royal status.
In terms of props one significant prop is the note written in decorative handwritting which further establishes the period setting of the film and also conveys how these characters are wealthy since during the time which the film is set education was very exclusive to those of upper class so to be able to write such a note in such a decorative way one would have to be educated.
Additionally as the opening sequence progresses we the audience can see Russian type on one of the walls of the set this further indicates that the narritve will be based in Russia.
Camera angles/editing
The opening sequence feautres a numeber of camera angles to engage the viewer such as many tracking and panning shots to change from location to location following the many set changes in the background which further explores this theatrical theme. This causes scenes to be much more busy and show the transition of time successfully. Moreover through editting in the opening sequecene one can see footage of a toy train which match cuts to a real train; this conveys a shift in time and location.
some excellent detail here Chris. Well done for separating your response into the 4 key areas and including plenty of technical language.
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*diegetic