Film Opening Conventions - Children of Men (2006)

I will analyse the opening scene of Children of Men to understanding how setting, narrative, genre and representation are creating in only 120 seconds of screen time.

Setting

Set in futuristic London we learn a lot about the setting from the mise-en-scene and the sound. First we hear  from the TV this is a time of conflict - the borders have remain close for immigrant for 8 years and illegal immigrants will be deported, this suggest the world is becoming unsafe resulting in the migration of people. 

However, there is a globalisation effect in city with the presence of motorised rik-shaws, suggesting as mixing of various western and eastern cultures. Also noticeable is the dirt on the streets and dank polluted atmosphere in the air. So this is dystopian view of the future.

This is further emphasised by the headline news - the death of Baby Diego who for someone at 18 years old is the youngest person on the planet. This is the main enigma established at the start of the film - how is this possible? What has happened to the population of the planet.

Other enigmas revolve around the main protagonists. The news of Baby Diego seems to major sad news due to the reaction of the crowds in the cafe. This is shown in a wide shot as they watch the unfolding news.

The main protagonist is more cold hearted as he's not paying attention to the TV, and is more interested in getting his morning coffee. This is emphasis by the use of the wide shots as we see him pushes past seemingly grieving customers.

This offers the question - why is this man different? Why is he so cold hearted.

The camera then follows the protagonist (the focus on him establishes his importance) and we is attire. He is wearing very dark which might suggest a shadiness to his characters and mirror his dark heart. He also pulls out a hip flask and pours in into his morning coffee. This dependency on alcohol suggests a perhaps a depressive or stressed lifestyle or perhaps drinking to forget. So this use of mine-en-scene indicates a broken and troubled man which might help explain his apathy to the news.

Lastly the whole peace is disrupted by a bomb that creates panic. This adds huge drama to scene and sets up further enigmas - who planted the bomb in a coffee shop and why?

From this effective film opening I have understood the following conventions. For a thriller film opening to be effective we need:

- As disruption - presumably from the key antagonist

- A series of mysteries or unanswered questions that the film will then resolve.

- Establishing the main protagonist, a indication of the type of plot and a setting of the tone of the location

- An increase in tension.

- Action to grab the audiences attention.