delicatessen intro analysis

1. Delicatessen OPENING SEQUENCE ANALYSIS By Phoebe Little

2. SHOT 1 This is an establishing shot, initially shown at the beginning of the clip to show the audience where the narrative is going to be set. Low key lighting has been used here, creating this eery atmosphere. This could foreshadow creepy events are to follow. Furthermore, the shadows (created by this low key lighting) reveal decrepit and ruined buildings, portraying a deserted town. This builds suspense from the beginning of the film, making the audience wonder why the setting is like this. The deep focus of this shot allows the audience to focus on the entire shot and helps them realise the extent of the eery wreckage.

3. Zooming into the delicatessen Following on from the establishing shot, the camera begins to gradually zoom into the Delicatessen. This signifies to the audience that this shop will be the centre of a lot of the narrative. It also builds suspense, as it forces the audience to wonder why this unsuspecting delicatessen is the centre of the action. The lack of music in this shot creates an eery atmosphere, nodding to the horror genre of the film. It also draws further attention to the other noises in the clip, like the low humming music (added to create a tense and creepy mood), and the sudden ringing of the bell, made to scare the audience and wonder who it is opening the door.

4. CLOSE UP OF KNIFE The camera then travels round the corner and tracks in to reveal this close up shot; The man is standing there sharpening his knife. The proximity of the knife to the camera emphasises the significance of the knife and how it may appear again later in the clip- perhaps to be used violently? There is no music during this shot but a quiet humming continues throughout, building suspense for the viewer and making them feel nervous as to what could happen next. The knife is being sharpened extremely loudly, frightening the audience and making this man come across as extremely intimidating. Behind the knife, you realise how dirty this man’s clothes are. This connotes a lack of personal hygiene, forcing the audience to wonder why such basic hygiene has been rejected. It makes the man come across as even more unpredictable and unstable. The camera then travels up (moved by hand). This has been done in order for the viewer to see the whole of the man, and realise the significance of him in the narrative. The lack of dialogue here makes the audience question his motives.

5. CLOSE UP OF FACE, FOLLOWED BY CLOSE UP OF KNIFE Here, the audience are greeted with a close up shot of another man, looking around frantically. This close up shot, along with his alarmed facial expressions, make the viewer anxious. This shot makes you wonder who this man is, and why he is so scared, therefore creating suspense within the audience. The low key lighting here emphasises this suspense and highlights the shadows around the man’s eyes, highlighting his facial expressions and making the audience feel nervous. The lighting also makes the audience fearful of the unknown- what could be in the dark? This shot is followed by the man (from before) hurriedly sharpening his knife, once more. The sequence of these shots (the shot of the man’s head, followed by the knife) suggests to the viewer a relationship between the two actions, evoking further suspense. It makes them question the first man’s safety and the second man’s motive.

6. SHOTS OF THE MAN IN THE BIN The first shot is an extreme close up the man’s eyes. He’s in the dustbin being rustled around. The close up shot, as said before, implies to the audience that this moment is crucial/ significant within the narrative but also emphasises the man’s anxiety (especially within his eyes). Also worth mentioning is the lack of music in this shot. This has been done in order to bring out the narrative’s suspense and tension, instead of using music to create it. What is predominantly heard is the man’s rapid breathing. This lack of music, accompanied by his breathing helps the audience understand the great extent to which this man’s life is at risk, and the tension and nervousness he is feeling as a result of that. The moment that he opens the lid to the bin is also worth mentioning as this quickly cuts to a medium shot of the man from before, smoking outside. This solidifies the fact that there is some sort of relationship between the two, and that the man in the bin is feeling nervous as a result of the other man. It makes the audience scared too, as it makes them worried- will the other man notice the man in the bin?

7. FINAL SHOT- LOW ANGLE OF MAN OVER BIN This medium low angle shot of the man, with his knife, is the last shot we see in this clip. The low angle, seen from the perspective of the other man, shows the power that this man hold when accompanied by his knife. Currently, he holds the most dominant and risky position of the two men. His facial expressions suggest a lack of mental stability. The fact that this man is happy/ excited when with his knife (and seemingly about to murder someone) makes the audience feel as if this man is most definitely unpredictable/ unstable. This is highlighted by the lack of music, which has been replaced by this man’s hysterical laughing. The way that this shot has been framed, with the bin’s walls effectively framing the man again symbolises his significance and power. It makes the viewer pay attention to him/ look solely at him.