The Road Opening

In lesson I had to analyse the opening to to 'The Road', I was commissioned to focus on the sounds in the opening and other sections of the class on the other parts ( camera, Mise en scene and edits).

Sound Analysis

• At the very start of the first scene you can hear sound effects, this being Birds and dogs barking. These represent life, and the beauty of the world before the destruction.
• Soft and low volume control almost like a calming lullaby, non diagetic sound. 
• The sound of the wind representing the fire, not noticeable at first just like the characters didnt notice the destruction at first- Diagetic sound
• Sound bridge of the running water, connecting the two scenes together- both diagetic sound.
• Futuristic sounds representing the end of his dream, volume control used to show the sudden awakening.
• Cracking, showing instability and maybe even representing what the world is like now, cracking and only just being held together. This also represents the desperate need for shelter as he's put himself and his son in danger by sleeping underneath an unstable cave. 
• Volume control- music stopped
• Back to non diagetic sound, piano music underneath the voice over, adding emotion but allows us to hear the libretto.
• Diminuendo of the piano, volume control. 

 Camera

• In the opening scenes of 'The Road' we see establishing shots depicting how life was before the natural disasters.
• Tracking shot of the bed room allowing the audience to see all of their belongings and how they live their normal life, however the orange glow that we see at the end of the shot does not go unnoticed. 
• There's a close up on both of their faces as they see the destruction outside their window, and when we pan downwards to show that she is pregnant and married.
• The close up continues on after the father wakes up from his dream, and shows his hand on his stomach just like she did before.
• Mid shot when we see him hanging up his socks and his son sat in the tent, proving to the audience they have collected many useful items to help them survive and how small the space they're living in is. 

Edits

• Graphic match- pink flowers on her jumper and then the flowers in her garden 
• Narration- gives expedition 

Mise en Scene

• Light and dark- showing contrast between the past and present, polar opposites.(High-key- before, Low-key-after)
• Teddy Bear, showing the boys innocence and age.
• Shopping trolley, only thing they could find to carry their belongings. Ironic because the use of a trolley is to collect more and new belongings, they are doing the opposite.