Wallander: Opening Sequence

Firstly, mise-en-scene uses costumes to show the personalities of different characters. For example, Sonia had a red strip in her hair which can show she's quite punk looking, she was also wearing black which can communication her gothic side and the colour black can symbolise that she's quite a dangerous character.

The use of the blood being splattered over the car window can suggested it was very brutal and can portray the girl's characters as very, rebellious and troubled.

Sonia, is wearing a razor blade as a necklace. This part of her costume can suggest, that she's very violent and is a dangerous character. The fact she's also carrying the knife can show, she played a bigger part in the murder and maybe she's more mentally unstable that her friend as later on, her friend confesses and she doesn't, which can suggest she's hiding something and her character is very unknown.

 

Cross-cutting is used as a form of editing, from the camera showing the girls, then the man, back to the girls etc. This effect can create the audience to feel like the man is a important start to the series and his murder is one of the main events to occur. As a result, can make the audience want to carry on watching and to understand more of the opening sequence.

The whole opening sequence is very slow paced which can have the effect, on the audience, of seeing brutality and how murdering someone is so cold-blooded and that's it's now going to effect the rest of their lives.

Furthermore, the use of an eye line match, where the police is looking at the girls in the police car can create a sense of disgust as what they've done is very serious and I think it's contrasting as, stereotypically, you wouldn't think two teenage girls would murder an innocent man for money.



Camerawork makes the opening sequence of Wallander look very dull and quiet, by the use of a long shot to show the location. The location shown is very contrasting to the story line as the location seems very relaxed and calm, whereas the storyline seems very mortal and cold.

There is also the use of a pan, when the officer is looking at the girls in the car. This is effective, as it allows us to have the perspective from the girls, as the police office stares at them. This can allow the audience to feel connected with his perspective and also allows us to feel more involved.

In addition, the use of a close of the man's key ring, gives the audience more of an invite to find out more about the man who got murdered. From this close up we've gained information that he, has a son which can probably mean he's around middle-aged. It also represents the fact that he had a family and was innocent, the only reason the girls murdered him was for his money.

Lastly, the music used in the credits produces a very soft and gentle atmosphere which also contradicts to the whole storyline. This can make the audience feel more intrigued.

When Sonia drops the knife on the floor, a sharp noise is used which can create an uncomfortable sensation and can cause the audience to feel uncomfortable. The use of the sharp noise can show the importance of the knife and how it's a very dangerous weapon.

Heavy breathing is used, when the girls are walking away from the car, after murdering an innocent man. The heavy breathing can indicate that the girls feel panicked. However, this is contrasting to their facial expressions as they act like what they've done isn't wrong. As a result, this can cause the audience to feel a little confused on how the girls feel, and what them to find out more.