Analysing the opening of

This is England

By Guedar 12s

This Is England:Content

This Is England is a 2006 British drama film written and directed by Shane meadows. The story centres on you skinheads in England in 1983. This film illustrates how their subculture, which has its root in 1960s west Indian culture, especially ska, soul, and reggae music became adopted by white nationalists. This PowerPoint will be analysing the opening of ‘This Is England’ linking with Cinematography, Mise En Scene Editing, exposition of character, Setting, Narrative & The Themes shown in this opening.

Macro features biggerCinematography At the beginning of This Is England there is a middle shot of a talking puppet, this creates

a enigma code to the audience as the audience want to know what this got to do with film and what is this puppet symbolising. It then cuts to a scene with a women in a truck that is wearing a white workers helmet and a blue dress/suit , this gives the impression that she is the charge /boss of this circumstances as she is not wearing a whole outfit for workers. It continues to edit through scenes with cuts, the scenes contain things such as skinheads , rock stars, the old building blocks and the riots. All of these scene gives the idea to the audience that this film is based in the 80s because of the style: cars, hairstyle, clothing, etc. The film doesn’t establish a protagonist, as its just shots of the 80s and its culture.

Macro features biggerMise en scene

On this film opening there is a lot scenes projected which applies that there will be many mise en scenes as each scene is different., the reason why it has so much scene is that it is conveying a particular theme of what life was like in the 80s. An example would be the retro game consoler and retro TV, this gives the impression that it was something new at that period of time and that it attracted a lot of teenage and young adult/men as the thing on the screen involves shooting and can only have a certain amount of life before its game over, which many male would find interesting .

Macro features biggerediting including sound Editing The way editing is done in this film opening is that there is

continues use of cuts when changing scenes. When it comes to titles, subtitles they all fade in and out of a scene. The bold silver fort titles, subtitles and headings foreshadows that this film will be some serious/tense drama film.

Sound In the beginning of the film opening, the establishing scene shows

a talking puppet, which is an non diegetic sound that relates to what is going on the screens, as it is the puppet voice.

The film opening after the first title sequences, diegetic sound begins to play, sound that not coming from any of the scenes. The impression that I get from sound/music which could be reggae , is that the scene and music it doesn't go together, but however the interesting thing is that they do link with each other in some scenes such as the riot scenes and how the music

Micro features smaller Exposition of character (who is shown - what do we learn about them-

how are they represented),  

Throughout the film opening, the film, explores many exposition of characters such as the skin head, rock star, etc..

Skinheads:Tribal : Gang relative Social background: frustration, poverty, angrierExecutive: executives other if they don't belong fit in the categoriesPop culture: main stream at that period, punk music

Rock star:Musical: Rock stars/ rock bandDance: Crowed dancing to the bandPop culture: main stream at that period, punk music

Micro features smaller Exposition of character (who is shown

- what do we learn about them- how are they represented), Part 2.

What the audience learn about the characters is there style clothing, housing and life. We learn there style of clothing by what they are wearing when dancing, rioting etc. We see there style of housing by the way they are built and shaped in cut scenes. Also the graffiti suggest it was ghetto. The last thing that we have learnt is how affairs and events were carried out in the 80s.

Micro features smaller Setting - where - what time period – is the exposition of place/time important in this film opening?

The opening it doesn’t establish a particular location, but however it does establish a periold of time that this film will be based on which is the 80s. The reason why it is important in this film opening is that the narrator is trying improvise that this movie is set in 80s so its showing affairs, cultures and life of the 80s in England.

Micro features smaller Narrative - how much of the narrative is actually shown?  What predictions about the film could you actually make from the opening?  How are enigma codes used to hook the audience?  How does the title sequence close or resolve itself? Narrative theory?

In this opening there is little, in fact no narrative or dialogue is actually shown though out the opening of how the story is going to be told. The predictions that I can make from the opening of what the film will be like is that it is set in 80s, its going to be on the culture of England in that time, as the clips that were shown were based on that. The way enigma codes are used to catch the audience in this opening is that the director didn't give anything away other than what the theme is about, which want to make us audience want to know more. The way the title sequence resolve itself is that it fades in at ‘35 seconds’ and fades out at ’40 seconds’ the whole title sequence last about 5 seconds, on the film opening.

Enigma

codesWhy are these clips being shown?

What is this going to be about?

Who is the protagonist ?

Where part of England? 35

seconds 40

seconds

Roland bathes Theory:

Micro features smaller Themes - some film openings really focus on the themes or ideas that may be significant in the film - does the film opening that you have analysed do this

On this film opening its main focus was on the theme and idea of when the movie was set and its culture. On the opening it suggest that the film is based in the 80s in England, we can tell this by scenes such as the skinheads, the housing, cars and the retro TV and game. Its try to convey the culture of the 80s to audience, giving them a insight of what life was like in the 80s and events and affairs that took place. The idea its portrays to the audience. is that whatever this film is about it has everything to do with the 80s and its culture.