Romance

The Holiday opening scene analysis

As soon as the titles are introduced we get the non-diegetic sound of the calm music already creating the mood. As the picture is introduced we get a blurred out vision of greenery and a lake with the birds adding the diegetic sound of them tweeting which shows a symbol of love. We are introduced straight away with clichés, codes and conventions as in the first shot there is a boy and girl who are kissing in this romantic setting. From this we get the idea that they are in love. This immediately makes the audience feel a sense of happiness as they watch this couple look into each other eyes lovingly. The genre has been made very clear. As the camera zooms out we see a guy playing the piano which is often used in romances to help create the romantic mood. We now understand that this is a directing of a movie connoting that true love only happens in movies. As the diegetic sound of the piano changes we get the voice over of a female talking about love, following the conventions again. As this voice over carries on we get an individual close up shot of a boy and girl. In the shot of the boy we can tell he is looking directly as this girl smiling making the audience aware that this is the love of his life. However, in the shot of her we can tell she doesn’t love him back, or doesn’t know she does yet as she is looking down at the floor on the phone giggling and smiling to somebody on the phone. Loving somebody who doesn’t love you back? These clichés are extreme. The girl walks over and he kisses her on her hand, she smiles and walks away. With her back turned to him you see for a split second in the close up of him his pain and love he feels for this girl. In the voice over we then hear “love is blind” connoting that they do love each other but she just cannot see it yet. The voice over then says “now that is something I know to be true”, this is effective as it is personal making the audience feel more comforting and feel like they can relate so much more to the situation. Making them feel like they are not the only one. From this the audience understand that the voice over is explaining the couple’s situations as they don’t speak a word. The music becomes more upbeat as the shot pans into another setting introducing a white title on a black ground. The next shot is of another couple sitting in the car. We get a close up of the girl who turns to look at the man with no emotion on her face. We then get a close up side angle of the man who turns to look at her. As they stare into each other’s eyes he looks down to the floor in disappointment and sadness as the voice over says “love fades”, giving us an insight in their relationship. We then get a quick shot of both of them looking away from each other with nothing to say or do but to drive.

The next shot is then a close up of the number plate of the car and as it zooms out we are shown a long shot of the car driving away in a city full of pretty lights on trees and wrapped around building showing the audience that is around Christmas which is a time for love however we have just been shown 2 couples with issues. Enigmas are added. Will their problems be resolved? And who is the woman doing the voice over? She may have the biggest problem of them all.

The music is changing from up paced to slow and calming as we are shown a medium shot of an old guy getting into bed, looking at the photograph of his wife and the voiceover saying “for some love is simply lost”. The non-diegetic sound has slowed down when the problems are introduced to help the audience create the mood of sadness and to feel sorry for these characters.  The audience have seen all different types of relationships but all ones with issues, making the audience hope that this loving holiday will restore all love, hope and happiness.

The next shot is a medium shot of a guy walking through a party with a drink in his hand. As he reaches his friends are full of laughter he turns around and a close up is shown of him looking at a girl who is looking directly back. Close ups are shown on both of them as they smile at each other in time for the voice over to say “love can be found, even if just for the night”.

After this shot we are shown a shot zooming in of a woman sitting alone at her desk, implying she is at work on this special day connoting she is alone wrapping a present. In this shot it is dark all around by at her desk is where all the light is showing us she is an important character. As the voiceover continues she talks about the worst type of love, “unacquainted love” and says “from that, I am an expert”. The audience have finally met the woman of the voiceover. From this we can infer that she is the main female character even though we are introduced by many. The music is at a slow pace and has that depressing feel towards in, emphasising the characters emotion.  We then get a close up of her face as she looks down and smiles at her wrapped present as if it’s the happiest she has been in a long time. But all of a sudden her face drops and she tucks in away in her drawer. The tone in her voice becomes more aggressive and her facial expression looks more worried like she is trying to pluck up the courage to do something. As she walks out of her office into a crowd of people, looking like a work party it all makes sense now. We get a medium shot of her stopping and staring at somebody. She stands there frozen and breathe taken as soon as she laid eyes on this man we are shown a medium shot of talking to other people. At this time she says “I have willing loved that man for over 3 miserable years”. By the word “miserable” we can connote that he does not and will not love her back.