The Bourne Identity

In class we analysed The Bourne Identity.

The film starts with the production company logo and the sound of thunder, rain and wind are heard over the top, they start quietly and increase in volume slowly. Soft orchestral music starts to play and increases in volume and the production company logo changes to a black screen, which then cuts to a storm, a lightning silhouette can be seen. The scene changes to a wide shot of men on a ship playing cards, the audience can hear them speaking but enigma is created because they are speaking in a foreign language. The violins from the music play throughout these scenes and help to create suspicion and tension. There is another shot showing the ocean and storm, the music depth increases, which quickly cuts back to the card game, the focus of the shot is on the card game and the man speaking to the rest of the crew. The scene once again changes to show the ocean, there is lightning and a silhouette is shown in the water again, but looking up at the person in the sea. The next shot shows a man stumbling along the ship up to the bow, with storm noises continuing around him, the music picks up pace, creating tension. As the camera angle changes the shot of the man changes to a silhouette of him walking and the boat, this can create an element of mystery. There is a close up of the man, showing his reaction when he sees the man floating in the sea, during this scene the music picks up pace to signify that something is about to happen. A shot shows the man in the sea from underneath him, the it cuts to a black screen and the title of the film. After the title, the next scene a high shot looking down on the men in the ship pulling the man out of the sea, the music is faster and sounds of the men struggling are heard over the music. There are fast jump cuts showing the crew and the man, suggesting something bad has happened. The last shot in the 2 minute of the opening is the crew trying to look after the man from the sea.