Wallander Opening Sequence Analysis

Mise En Scene

The opening sequence to Wallander is based in the countryside near the coast. This represents an isolated location and also questions why the director has chosen that specific area. When the backs of two girls are revealed to the audience, it connotes innocence and vulnerability, which contrasts with the leather jackets they are wearing, which amplifies their rebellious manner. Stereotypically, we would have assumed that the girls were harmless, however it is soon evident to us that the feminine figure is show to us in a refreshing, surprising representation.

            When the shot cuts to the inside of the taxi car where you can intercept the knowledge that it’s a middle aged man, the audience could assume that the man may have been the one who was dangerous, even though we can see the man is seriously injured and unconscious with a vast amount of blood all over the car. This leaves the audience with questions such as if the girls had to defend for themselves. The blood is also a clear sign to the audience that action has occurred for blood to be shed.

           

            After witnessing the anger upon the girl’s faces, it makes us even more suspicious that they could be the dangerous persons in this predicament. Evident to support this could be the cutthroat blade around one of the girls necks, as well as the girls costumes being of a goth-like similarity, who are stereotypically known to be dark, unpleasant characters.

            The fact that the taxi card is shown as well as the picture of the taxi driver with is son is evidence to the audience that he is just a working man, and could be innocent. On the other hand, being alone with a man whilst being a young girl could still be seen as dangerous and suspicions are still aroused to who is the dangerous one.

            We do not know what reason the girls tried to kill the taxi driver which makes us want to carry on watching the programme. Other aspects featured to represent the tone of the hit tv drama would include the low-key lighting, to create a gloomy atmosphere to simulate pathetic fallacy as well as one of the girls having red braids, which imply danger and anger, which is clearly shown through the last shot of the scene which is where the girl throws away the bloodstained knife.

Sound

The score for the opening scene of this TV drama included diagetic sounds at he beginning of the scene such as wind, exaggerating the use of pathetic faacy audibly as well as visually. This created effects such as making the audience feel uneasy as well as making the  scenario seem eerie and mysterious. A high pitch whistle is also heard too to create tension and ensure that the audience have no time to relax.

The fact that the radio is paying in the background of the taxi car, makes it seem more naturalistic as well as being a feature of everyday life, which is a huge contrast in comparison to the blood and everything else visible on screen.

The heavy breathing heard in the background imitates someone who has just partaken in physical activity (where in this case it would be stabbing the taxi ddiriver). This can clearly tlink in with the mise enscene explaining that action had just taken place. Also, the ow pitch noises heard nearing the end of the opening sequence are used to make the audience feel anxious and uneasy until the music gradually climaxes creating tension throughout the first scene of the TV drama,

Editing

Editing is used from the very beginning in Wallander as a gradual fade in from the black screen links in with the murky scene tshown through a a long duration shot of the entire surroundings. This is to clearly depict the atmosphere to the audience and make them think and relate to the programme. As well as this, it delivers a slow pace to the auience, this could be to let the crowd before exposing key features within the scene. Howver, as the audiene recognises thatm dangerm blood and death is revealed more and more often, the transitions of the shots pseed up quicker and quicker, similar to the equivalent of the girls walking paces throughout he play.
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Cinematography

A master shot at the beginning of the scene was used to set the scene for the audience to witness their surrounding easily and capably. The slow track in on action simulates the fact that the helicopter shot could e that of a third persons’ respect and be a sort of eyeline match for the audience to follow. The two shot following up after shows detail of both girls at the same time to ephasise the importance of the audience knowing as much as they can about the girls without using dialogue. Next, a variety of different shots portray sections of the car and persons within the scene throughout many extreme close ups. This is to deplay precise detail and also so the director can ensure that the audience can see ckear detail such as the blood or the emotions on the girl’s faces to vnon-verbally depict emotion. The fact that a two shot  of the characters is shown in the background with a focus pull on the car, making the girls seem blurry and vice versa is to show that the girls were hurrying and are a good distance away from the car,  this lso shows that they were hurrying throughout the two shot, and the fact that you can visual the open doors of the car. I think they were chosen to continue to be open by the director to emphasise that the girls were hurring and closing the doors  were unimportant to them. =the focus oulls included in the opening scenes explain to the audience that they ar being brought back to reality to be reminded that this isn’t a peaceful scenario.

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