Fish tank opening sequence analysis.
The opening sequence of fish tank is where the audience first meets Mia (Katie Jarvis) and are introduced to the setting, narrative and hints at upcoming themes to be features through out the film.
At the start of the film, similar to most British made films, there is a sequence of titles to show who the film has been funded and produced by. For example, the BBC lottery is usually featured in order to establish the film is British. Instead of having and opening image sequence and then the films title, the sequence starts with the title fish tank and the sound of heavy breathing in the background. the image track then cuts to a shot of a girl bent over breathing heavily against a tatty blue wall, as if she has been running or exercising. The heavy breathing gives the introduction a fast paced feel but also subtly hints at a struggle or suggest struggle and tiredness as an upcoming theme for the film.
During the camera angles in the opening sequence we watch Mia through over the shoulder shots and a range of medium close ups and medium long shots to show Mia's attitudes and body language but also to make her seem more "dangerous". This if effective because the camera angles give the audience the feeling they are following Mia and keeping their distance in order to show her difficult personality.
The camera angles at the start of the image track also give the film a fast paced feeling from the use of diegetic sound when Mia stands in the empty apartment/room. The shot where Mia's silhouetted against the view of the estate shows that maybe the setting is an important feature of the film and the lifestyle of Mia's family is why she is the way she is. Also Mia being a silhouette shows that she invisible to others in this flat and as we find out later this is her special place.
Through out the opening sequence there is no music track being played over the top of this image track, in other words there is no non diegetic sound used. Instead there is the sounds of shouting and cars that make the city sound busy and alive and also the phone call and sound of her moving around add to the levels of verisimilitude. The shuffling of Mia's feet and her bag gives the audience a feel of how nervous she is feeling and also her anger.
Mise en scene if used effectively in the opening sequence in order to show the audience that Mia lives in a deprived area. This is done mostly by the costume Mia wears, and relies on the audience responding to typical stereotypical representations in order to portray her personality and her clothes suggest something about her lifestyle. For example, the hooped earrings and tracksuit bottoms create a look that conforms with the "chavvy" stereotype and also suggest she is from a deprived community. Her costume also hints are dull coloured and also at the same time childish and so hint at her vulnerability and childishness.
Visually, the opening sequence stays typical of the gritty realism genre by using high key lighting. This lighting technique gives the sequence more verisimilitude and allows the audience to soak in the atmosphere and tone of the piece.
Interestingly, when looking at the opening sequence there is only one adult shown and the rest of the shots consist of unattended children running round the estate. This, and the way in which Mia conducts herself around Keilighs dad suggest that bad parenthood or a lack of parent-child relationships could be a theme later through out the film, especially looking at Mia's relationship with her mum.
The language in this first part of the film suggests themes but fits into the typical gritty realism genre by its setting in a deprived or troubles community. The swearing and slight passive aggressive behaviour implies that something is wrong, but also that the tone of the film may be shocking or upsetting. Mia's behaviour reflects a lack of respect for authority and her mom and shows she is rebellious and naughty.
The opening sequence of fish tank is where the audience first meets Mia (Katie Jarvis) and are introduced to the setting, narrative and hints at upcoming themes to be features through out the film.
At the start of the film, similar to most British made films, there is a sequence of titles to show who the film has been funded and produced by. For example, the BBC lottery is usually featured in order to establish the film is British. Instead of having and opening image sequence and then the films title, the sequence starts with the title fish tank and the sound of heavy breathing in the background. the image track then cuts to a shot of a girl bent over breathing heavily against a tatty blue wall, as if she has been running or exercising. The heavy breathing gives the introduction a fast paced feel but also subtly hints at a struggle or suggest struggle and tiredness as an upcoming theme for the film.
During the camera angles in the opening sequence we watch Mia through over the shoulder shots and a range of medium close ups and medium long shots to show Mia's attitudes and body language but also to make her seem more "dangerous". This if effective because the camera angles give the audience the feeling they are following Mia and keeping their distance in order to show her difficult personality.
The camera angles at the start of the image track also give the film a fast paced feeling from the use of diegetic sound when Mia stands in the empty apartment/room. The shot where Mia's silhouetted against the view of the estate shows that maybe the setting is an important feature of the film and the lifestyle of Mia's family is why she is the way she is. Also Mia being a silhouette shows that she invisible to others in this flat and as we find out later this is her special place.Mise en scene if used effectively in the opening sequence in order to show the audience that Mia lives in a deprived area. This is done mostly by the costume Mia wears, and relies on the audience responding to typical stereotypical representations in order to portray her personality and her clothes suggest something about her lifestyle. For example, the hooped earrings and tracksuit bottoms create a look that conforms with the "chavvy" stereotype and also suggest she is from a deprived community. Her costume also hints are dull coloured and also at the same time childish and so hint at her vulnerability and childishness.Visually, the opening sequence stays typical of the gritty realism genre by using high key lighting. This lighting technique gives the sequence more verisimilitude and allows the audience to soak in the atmosphere and tone of the piece.
Interestingly, when looking at the opening sequence there is only one adult shown and the rest of the shots consist of unattended children running round the estate. This, and the way in which Mia conducts herself around Keilighs dad suggest that bad parenthood or a lack of parent-child relationships could be a theme later through out the film, especially looking at Mia's relationship with her mum.
The language in this first part of the film suggests themes but fits into the typical gritty realism genre by its setting in a deprived or troubles community. The swearing and slight passive aggressive behaviour implies that something is wrong, but also that the tone of the film may be shocking or upsetting. Mia's behaviour reflects a lack of respect for authority and her mom and shows she is rebellious and naughty.
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