Film Techniques In Violent FilmsTechnique Focus: Music and SFX

Scene Analysis: Saving Private Ryan

Film Violence - Radar Scene

Role In This Scene

Reality and authenticity.

The relative safety of the soldier.

Constant artillery.

Impact On Viewers

Like watching a documentary.

Shows viewers how safe they are, highlighting the sacrifice of the soldiers.

Viewers understand the relentlessness of war.

Music• Unusually, a complete

lack of music. Accentuates the reality of the situation, making viewers feel they’re watching a documentary rather than a film.

• Allows for subtle SFX to be more prominent, eg breathing.

Natural Sound• Examples include

breathing, wind, and the metallic noise of getting out the spyglass.

• Adds to the reality and authenticity of the scene. Sounds focus on the particular soldier from whose perspective we’re watching the scene.

Sound Effects• These include gunfire and

explosions.• These are muted,

representing the distanced view of the soldier watching the scene, which is particularly being compared to his safety in comparison to the soldiers he watches die.

Dialogue• Unusually, none at all.

Viewers are made reliant on their understanding of war, the power of the imagery, and other filming techniques to receive the story and the emotional power of the scene.

• Soldier’s affects the emotionality of the scene as it indicates his level of fear.

Voice Over• While there are none, the

breathing is carried over into each shot irrespective of whether the soldier is visible. Continually remind viewers of the distanced, safe perspective, and the fear in his breathing drives home the horror of the scene.

Music, SFX & Violence

In this deliberately quiet scene viewers are made to watch helplessly as soldiers attempt to advance and are killed. The relentless sounds of artillery and terrified breathing add to the emotional power of the scene.