2. Mise En Scene- Setting
In the opening sequence of the film Memento, there are
three main settings. One of which appears to be in an old,
run down room which is evident from the bloody, plastic
curtains and unclean floor- it could perhaps be an
abandoned house or a hidden location. This creates
meaning towards the audience as they will wonder what
the room has been used for because it is looks secretive
and would make them want to continue watching to find
out more.
The second setting we see is in a hotel room, which, even
though he has hardly any personal items in the room, we
get the impression that he has been there for a while. The
scene is in black and white which portrays sad and
depressing emotions towards the audience.
The final setting in the opening sequence is at a hotel
called ‘Discount Inn’ . It looks fairly run-down because of
the dirty windows and location and the inside is quite
plain, all of this could suggest that the town is not very
wealthy. It is not a typical looking hotel that would
appeal to that many people.
These settings are important to the opening of the film as
it sets the mood for the entire film. Immediately we are
aware that there is a secret or accident involved because
of the bloody room and it influences the audience to
watch on as they would be intrigued to find out more.
These settings are clearly important towards the rest of
the film and so set the scene.
3. Mise En Scene- Costume
In the opening of the film of Memento the main actor is
seen wearing two main costumes. The fist is a suit which
looks quite dirty and worn out. This could create meaning
towards the audience as they would wonder how an
expensive looking suit came to look so run down. It could
also create curiosity towards the viewers. It is effective in
the opening as it gives the impression that the actor must
have gone through a tough experience in order for his
appearance to look as such and the only way to find out is
by watching the rest of the film.
The second costume that the main actor is seen
wearing in the opening is an over sized shirt. This
costume could have been used to show comfort;
he is sitting/lying on a bed and would want to be
comfortable. But it could also tell the audience
that he has little clothes with him in the hotel
room and this is the most comfortable thing to
wear. This could emphasise the fact that he is
constantly on the ‘go’ and has little clothes with
him, making the audience want to find out more.
4. Mise En Scene-
Figure Expression
• FACIAL EXPRESSIONS:
In both of these screen shots you can see that the actor looks
serious and focused for what he is about to do. This gives
the audience the impression that it has been planned an
thought about carefully. The facial expressions are good for
this thriller opening as it shows the mood that will be
portrayed throughout the film and shows that it will be an
intense film. You can also see from his eyes that although
he looks determined, he also looks worried- so perhaps he
is scared to do what he is about to do- this gives an insight
of the type of character he is.
• POSTURE:
In the screen shot you can see the actor standing tall with his
back straight, looking down on someone. This posture
shows authority and power and gives the impression that
he is the main character and the main focus of the film.
• Both the facial expressions and posture used in the opening
are important as it introduces the main character and
allows the audience to develop an understanding of who
he is. In this case the actor is portrayed as a serious,
revenge seeking man and it would encourage the audience
to continue watching as they would want to find out more
about him. They are also important as they allow the film
to look more realistic because a person in that situation
would react in the same way allowing the audience to be
able to relate to him more.
5. Mise En Scene- Props
There are quite a few props used in the
opening of this film. The main three, i
think, are the photograph of a dead man
lying on the floor with blood all around
him, a bullet, and a pair of bloody glasses.
The reason i think that they are the most
important is because the camera has a
close up shot on each of them and this
emphasises their importance within the
film as the audience would focus on them.
They are also important as they symbolise
death which tells the audience that death
is involved in the film and it sets the
suspicious mood towards the audience.
The photograph is the very first thing we see
when the film starts and it is shown for
the first 00:01:53 minutes.
The glasses and bullet are important as they
give an insight of what the film is about
and what might happen. It also sets the
mood of the film.
6. Extreme Close Up:
This extreme close up gives a shot of part of the main characters face. It alows us to see his eye,
nose and eyebrow. From this we can see that the character looks serious and focused ; we can
tell this by his intense stare and stern eyebrow. This suggests that the character is quite stern
and it emphasises his importance within the rest of the film.
7. Close Up:
This close up of the main character allows the audience to see the emotions which he is feeling.
He does not look happy but instead looks deep in thought and also a little bit
worried/nervous. This sets the tone of the film and tells the viewers the type of emotions
that will be portrayed throughout the whole film.
8. Medium Shot:
• This medium shot allows us to see the costume which the main character is wearing and it tells us
the type of person he is. The character is wearing a suit which suggests that he is formal and well
kept, but the suit looks worn out and unclean. This could suggest that there is a lot of action in the
film and it is also at a fast pace. It could suggest that he hasn’t changed his clothes for a while and
the rest of the film will tell you why.
9. Long Shot:
• This long shot gives information about the location of the main character. We can see that he is
lying on a bed in a hotel room. We can tell that it is a hotel room because of the layout of the
furniture. A normal bedroom would not usually have a table and chair besides the bed and so this
indicates that he is at a hotel. It is important for the opening as the location could be important in
the rest of the film and when it shows later on in the film we will remember it.
10. Pan
• Pan was used once within the opening of the film Memento and it was to show
details of the hotel room. This particular use of pan showed a mirror and a set of
drawers. It gives movement to the scene instead of making it static. Most pan
shots are used to show movement of characters which is good for thriller films as
they can be fast pasted and chaotic at times. but this one was effective towards
the audience as it showed that this particular location/setting was important and
so they are told this in the opening.
11. Tilt
This tilt shot was used to show part of the
hotel room and give detail of the
surroundings. It is used to add a
dramatic element to the film instead of
a straight-angle shot. Some directors
use tilt shots to show inferiority or
superiority of characters, but the
director of Memento, Christipher
Nolen, uses it to show detail of
locations an settings. This could be to
emphasise the importance of this
particular location to the audience. It
makes the scene much more enjoyable
an interesting to watch as it gives
variation of the shots used. Using shots
like the tilt shot in the opening of this
film was good as it gives the audience
an insight of the types of camera shots
that will be used and shows that just
straight angled, boring shots will not be
used.
12. Cut
The opening scene lasts 2 minutes and 25 seconds. At the end of it, it quickly and abruptly
cuts into the second scene of the film. This is shown in the two shots above. As soon as the
victim is shot, the film cuts into the second scene which is much more slow and calm. This
act of abruptness shows us that it will be a fast pasted film which is common for thriller
films. It also gives the audience an indication of how long each scene will last throughout the
film.
13. Performance-speech
In the opening scene of Memento there is very little dialogue between the
characters because there is only one little scene which has more than one
character in it. In the little bit of dialogue ,between the main character
and the owner of the Discount-Inn hotel, the main character talks in a
calm, collective and quiet voice, he does this even though he is asking
about a man in which he plans to kill. This would give the audience the
impression that he is a patient man and gives him a likeable characteristic.
14. Performance- Body Language
In this screen shot you can see that
the main character is stood up
straight, showing a strong
posture and suggesting that
he is a condident man. He also
has his arms by his side
showing a formal posture. If
he was more awkward or
unsure of himself, he might
have been fiddling with his
hands or leaning down a bit.
The second screen shot shows very
relaxed body language. From it
we can see that the character
is at ease and is calm. We can
see this by the way in which
he spreads out his legs instead
of tugging them together. His
arms are also spread apart. To
show that he was a little bit
more relaxed he could have
leaned his head, but because
he does not do this it could
suggest that he is thinking
about something.
15. Performance- Body language
(continued)
• In this screen shot we can see that the main character is leaning on the counter with one arm and
has the other in his pocket. He has turned his neck instead of his whole body to talk to somebody
who has just walked in. This also emphasises his easy-going and relaxing characteristics. A more
formal person would probably turn their whole body around and put their hands to their sides.
• All three of these screen shots show importance towards the opening of the film as they give the
audience an insight of what the main character is like in order for them to make a judgement.
16. Performance- facial Expressions
• In both of these screen shots
you can see that the main
character looks very intense
and focused. You can see this
by the rigid eyebrows and open
mouth, showing that he is in
full concentration. His eyes are
staring at something beneath
him and so he is looking down
on something, showing his
superiority in this particular
scene. This is important to the
opening as it is an
interpretation of the main
character.
17. Performance- Facial Expressions
(continued)
• In these two screen shots we
can see that the main
character, again, looks
focused. His eyebrows are
frowning which indicates
that he is concentrating and
thinking about something
important. In both shots he
avoids eye contact with the
camera which suggests that
he is not a friendly character.
• All together we can establish
that the main character is a
serious man who tkes things
seriously. We can see this all
by the screen shots taken.
18. Diegetic
• The diegetic sound in the opening of this film begins low pitched
and both slowly and very quietly, gradually getting slightly louder as
the scene is taking place. The sound is calm, reflective and sad
sounding. The pitch then gets higher slightly and it also begins to
sound more dark and serious.
• the diegetic sounds in the opening are good as it sets the mood to
the audience. T starts off very low and quiet, suggesting that it will
not be a happy, fun and lively film, nut instead will be intense.
When the music gets more dark and serious it is evident that the
film is a thriller and that dark, scary scenes will take place in the
film. The music in the opening allows the audience to feel the
emotions that the film wants to portray and allows them to
maintain these emotions throughout the film.
19. Non Diegetic
• The are also many non diegetic sounds within the
opening of the film. For example, at the very
beginning, the main character shakes the photograph
in his hand and a sound is heard with it. The sound for
taking a photo is also made audible and also a gun shot
is heard.
• These sounds are shown in the opening to make the
acting and situations more realistic. If these sounds
were not made then the effect would be very different
and the audience would not feel as engaged towards
the film as they would not be able to relate to it.
20. This analysis of micro elements in the thriller film
Memento will help me in my own production as it gives
me an insight of the types of shots i should be including
in my own film opening. It also shows me the types of
standards I should be aiming for in my film. For example
the performance of the actors that I use should be of a
high standard and I should use appropriate music to help
set the scene/mood. Analysing these micro elements
allowed me to understand how the audience should feel
whilst watching my film opening; if I want to portray a
certain emotion in my film i need to ensure that it can
also be portrayed by the audience.
