Children of men opening analysis

This scene is very effective because from the onset the intro is telling us what is happening in the world, to give us some background about this movie. The film is also quick in introducing the main character as he is scene walking in the centre of the shot going through people to make his way to the front, this allows the audience to quickly  identify him as the main character and it gives them time to relate to him. The sound of the music in the background along with the sound of people crying gives the audience the idea that it is very emotional moment and is very saddening for the people in the scene. There is also a quick contrast in environment from the quiet claustrophobic cafe to the much noisier outdoor city streets, this change signals to the audience a possible change of scene, it also increases the amount of chaos in the scene for the audience to look at, they also as he emerges identify the location as London, so people know where the movie is set, they also give a date so the audience is aware that the movie is set in the future. In the final seconds of the film the noise in the city quietens until the explosion occurs, this is effective because it is like the quiet before the storm and it is something the audience would not have expected. As the mist clears the audience gets a glimpse of what looks like a women holding her arm, this shows the audience that the country is in chaos but it is cut shot of fully showing us because it cuts to the title this is effective as it leaves the audience interested to see the rest of the film. The clothes the people are wearing are commonly seen as suits, or there wearing jackets and trench coats, this also gives the audience the idea that this film is based in a city, which we later know is London, The room they are in appears to be a cafe as there are people with coffee and a sandwich bar in the background, this could be used to give the scene a bit of fimiliarity to the scene as many people go to cafes during there normal day for breaks and lunch, they would be shocked by the terror attacks inflicted on the people as they would know what it feels limke to be in a cafe. The look on the faces of those in the cafe show a number of emotions which suggest shock, disbelief and concern, this I believe would be the natural reaction to an event such as the one depicted, and it gives the audience an idea of what emotions they should be feeling. They tend to use long shots in this scene, this allows them to show a lot of people and things happening in the scene, this is to make it look like a normal scene and that no one in the scene is important. They also use match on action to show what the main character is looking at when he is in the cafe, this makes it more personal and we get to see what is grabbing everyones attention. The movement of the cameraman around the main actor creates a great view of everything around him and provides a view of the explosion when it goes off, this is so that the audience can see the action unfolding.