Wallander. (Firewall, 7th December 2008, BBC1)

Wallander (Firewall, 7th December 2008, BBC1)

In the opening scene of Wallender, they use numerous techniques in the different aspects of Mise En Scene, Cinema photography, Editing and Sound. Each piece and technique used in this opening scene has a meaning and impact behind it to communicate to the audience, or a reason of why it has been presented and combined in the opening scene. There are several examples that are conveyed below that explains this in to further detail:

One example, of the sound that is used is a score at the beginning of the opening scene, this is used to build and create a tension that is used within the atmosphere and never releases. In the score, the best way to communicate the sound used is to describe it as echo sounds, this communicated the meaning of fear and mystery which constantly grabbed the audience attention and to making them feel engaged. In this moment, there is also an image on the screening of the overlay of the sea, which communicates to the audience the setting of an ocean,  the color is a dark shade of grey which means instead of complete darkness this is used to settle the audience and to inform them in a way that the opening clip and film is about to be displayed on the screen and to concentrate. This part of the opening scene communicates the emotions of darkness, seriousness, disturbance, life potentially fading away which could potentially be symbolized because of the ripples displayed in the texture and surface of the ocean, portrayed on the screening. An image is presented below to convey this moment:

Furthermore, a different camera shot is used when the camera tracks in a forward movement, using an extreme wide shot, a tight frame, and an establishing shot. These are used to communicate to the audience what is in the setting, inside the frame, what the location is and how it links to the climax of the opening scene and what engages the audience to continue watching. Wind sounds, are used to set a creepy like atmosphere and to spook the audience out so that the audience can be involved in the situation almost by not expecting what is about to happen or the sight that their going to see that could be described as frightening. This moment, shows that the location is a remote area and the theme of neglection is conveyed through this moment. As further watching in this specific moment, the audience establish that this is a countryside setting and associate the countryside with the atmosphere being peaceful which contrasts against and towards the upcoming scenes. In this moment, high pitched noises are being edited in to this moment, to creep out the audience and to continue watching to see what this tension is leading up to. The louder noises used and heard, empathizes the idea of tension constantly being felt and created throughout the opening scene. As the camera tracks in, there is a outline of a white colored figure moving towards the right hand side of the screen, this communicated to the audience already the meaning and interpretation of someone potentially trying to escape a situation or move far way of distance away from the car. A dark grey of color is used to communicate the theme of horror and mystery, and that this is a harmful and pessimistic moment used within the opening scene to make the audience feel intrigued. 

Moreover, later on in the opening scene, there is a wisp sound that is heard in the opening scene moment. This communicates the idea of ghostly noises being surrounded within the atmosphere, and this is an uncomfortable moment for the audience to experience. In this moment, the screen displays two individuals walking away from a vehicle  in this moment a mid-shot is used to communicate the back view of the two female individuals. The clothing used, is black and dark colored which holds connotations of danger, depression and negativity. The female to the right hand side, has a messy hair style which communicates that she might not be bothered about having a neat appearance or been out in a location for a long duration of time and been experiencing emotions such as being panicked and worried. This female character is a taller height that the other character, this communicates the idea that she is the character with higher status and more of a dominant character within the relationship of these two characters. The other character is a shorter height, which makes the impression to the audience of her being less important and potentially not wanting to belong in the location and situation that she is currently involved in within this moment. This moment of the opening scene, communicates the idea that these two characters are escaping from something dangerous that might have previously occurred. Therefore this already holds the meaning, that something has happened between the vehicle in a remote area and these two female young aged characters.  This moment makes the audience want to ask questions such as: Who are these girls?, What has happened? Why are they there? and Why were they involved?. 

Also analysisng the mise en scene, there is several techniques and meanings used in the opening scene. For instance, the right hand character has a dark colored hair with pieces of red coloring in her hair which is outlined and portrayed strongly within the screening. This communicates that she might have a rebellious personality, and that she is a dominant, leading and older character within the proxemics and relationship. However, the character on the other side of the screening, has normal thick appearance of a hairstyle, which conveys the meaning that she is a weaker character and potentially more dependent on others. The black costume used empathizes the meaning and idea of danger. How the camera, has used the image of the only back appearance of theme, this hides their facial expressions, emotions and hides their appearance. By doing this, in the opening scene it withholds information which then keeps the audience engaged. It also communicates to the audience that maybe and potentially inside the charters they might actually be innocent behaved characters  and dragged in to a situation they didn't intentionally want to be involved in. 

Later on in the opening scene, we hear a form of hyperbolic sound being heard such as footsteps being heard, this communicates to the audience the idea of someone travelling with fear and the sense of adrenaline of something that has previously happened. This is also combined with the sounds of wind and heavy breathing, this communicates the meaning that the character is terrified about something and feeling the emotion of paranoia and aware that they have done something immoral. As an audience member, in this moment we don't hear any dialogue, from this it communicates the idea that they don't want to speak and feel to vulnerable as a character to communicate with anyone in verbal communication.

Furthermore in this moment, a pull focus is used on the identity card. This communicates that the meaning of this is so that the attention from the audience is immediately focused on what is being presented in the tight frame amongst what else is being displayed. This allows the audience to gain an understanding of someones identity and individuality who has had some form of contact with the vehicle, because of it being positioned in the vehicle. In this screening, there is also a section of the screening of a hand that is positioned on the steering wheel that is used with stillness. This communicates the meaning that there is a character within the opening scene that is dead, and may have lost their life due to a situation that occurred between himself, the female characters and the vehicle. In this screening, there is also a part of the screen that displays a part where their is blood splattered across the front window-screen. This presents the idea to the audience of a violence action that has taken place and maybe the idea of someone suffering before losing their life. This makes the audience ask the rhetorical question of How can the two girls kill a man?.