Harry Potter Opening Scene Analysis

1. HARRY POTTER OPENING SCENE ANALYSIS
(FANTASY, DRAMA, THRILLER)
Dark lighting and misty smoke
in the background gives it a
mysterious effect.
Informs us, film has been produced by ‘Warner
Brothers’
Loose close up enabling us to capture the shot, ensuring
the logo remains in our minds.
Tittle of film in a gloomy font
foreshadowing an enormous battle.
Tittle in the centre of the frame certifying what the
film is about.
Eerie music giving the audience chills.
Mohammed Efrat Opu

2. Long shot enabling the audience to capture the
surroundings.
Grave in an empty forest representing the
deceased to be a very powerful figure.
The tree on the right, makes the audience
believe they are hiding behind it, trying to vision
which evil character is taking out the grave.
The wand connotes power. This shows it being held by the wrong
hands indicating mass destruction.
The flat tone string music keeps the
audience in suspense. The volume
staying quiet raises curiosity.
The rapid shot gives us a
glimpse of what item he is
holding, steadily in his hand.

3. His facial expression tells us he is in
disbelief. He cannot believe he is holding
the most powerful wand in the world.
The lighting becomes bright, enabling us to
vision the evil figure.
At the centre of the frame which tells the audience his status. He
is represented as a powerful, sinful and wicked character showing
no signs of mercy.
Volume becomes increasingly loud,
showing a moment of demolition.
The setting turns brighter showing the presence of a
authoritative figure. The audience is traumatised
believing the wand has such supremacy.
The shot is extra long, displaying the isolated
setting. Connotes the feeling of corruption, foul
and evil.

4. Extra long shot allowing the audience to
envision the setting - An ancient school
amongst mist, surrounded by dementors.
Eerie music expressing unhappiness –
dementors are seen as spiteful creatures, able to
extract the joy out of humans.
The dementors show no similarities in appearance with humans. They have
no touchable coating, therefore is represented as being lifeless as
frightening.
Low angle shot indicating the character is powerful.
Costume choice of an all black cloak
denotes superiority.
Facial expression displays his
seriousness.
Lighting being dim, sets the audience
in a dull mood.

5. A secluded grave seen to be part of nature by the
surrounded grass. This connotes sadness by the
description: ‘Here lies Dobby, A free elf’. The
audience feel tearful.
The lighting is bright, giving the image that he
lived a blissful life.
The grave is at the centre of the frame, portraying the
importance of the character.
Long/Establishing shot allows the audience to see the isolated
surrounding. Harry is sitting next to the grave framed as being
very small. This gives the impression that he is, at this point, very
weak and vulnerable.
The sandy atmosphere shows there is
no meaning of life.
The sound is windy to give the
impression that life is always
moving.
Harry is on his knees, framed to
the bottom right, giving the
illusion that he is praying for
Dobby.