Requiem for a Dream(2000) Opening Analysis

The opening of the film begins with the icons of producers and helpers such as Artisan. This is then followed by a shot of a tv screen of a man talking to his audience about how he's fixed his life as words like 'WE'VE GOT A WINNER!' flashes up which immediently draws the audience in. Between this there's some opening credits such as the director. The man's audience appears to be blindly repeating him to suggest how the media has changed and how people want success, suggesting a though provoking film. The quality is poor as it's on an old TV to imply that the film is set a while ago and that the viewer of the Television doesn't earn enough to afford a better TV (which is ironic considering what they are watching). Suddenly the TV flashes off as a women(perhaps in her 50's) is upset and arguing with her son who is trying to take the set. Some quiet cellos and violins play eerie but soft sounds in the background. She locks herself in the cupboard to suggest a poor relationship between mother and child as the shots are edited to show both her and her son on either side of the door. This also implies a difference of age, gender, lifestyle and their opinions as the film wants to understand more than one audience and so that one audience can understand another.

Then as the left side switches to a keyhole shot to make the audience feel the emotions of the mother, the right side uses a freehand camera to follow the son. He then shouts more as we discover she has locked the TV to the radiator, suggesting her worries, the fact she can't control him and that this has happened before, creating tension between the characters. He argues that she's trying to make him feel bad whilst also convincing her that she'll get the TV back soon. This prehaps suggests two sides to the character, that one is angry at how he can't get his way yet another is trying to get what's best in a caring way.The mother slides the key that we discover has been around her neck under the door, further suggesting her concern for her own safety, She also tries to convince him that the chain wasn't for him as she doesn't want to create further distress. Soon after he unlocks the TV he calms down and apologizes, wishing for her to come out so the audience can sympathise and relate with both characters, As he leaves the shot goes back to her alone in the poor lighting of the cupboard as she talks to someone named Seymour, who we assume is her late husband, trying to convince him (but mostly herself) that if this should happen then it'll work out in the end. A split second after, the title of the film, Requiem for a Dream in bold yet neat font (similar to Times New Roman) slides down the screen from top to the middle as the sound of prison gates close, suggesting a drama film and that it won't work out. The writing then follows with a dissolving effect with a sizzling sound to connote the way LSD or other drugs melt into the tongue or bloodstream when taken(the film is related to drugs and addiction), which also connotes controversy. Also, the now well known song Summer of Overture by Clint Mansell plays, a classical song that slowly starts with a sweet piano tune to imply an easy beginning for the characters.

The song progresses to a louder, sharper and more industrial tune as the two main male characters carry the TV set across the isolated town, suggesting the film is set in a small area as a microcosm for the rest of the film as more opening credits are shown in between and too, sizzle away. The son's friend is black to further draw in and show the real lives of people of different race,age and gender yet all share an addiction, which is found out later. Finally the word SUMMER slides down the same way as the title with the same prison gate sound effect, suggesting that the film only follows across maybe a year or two since it's seasonal based time slots. The shots are quite dark and contrasted and are shot from awkward angles to make the audience feel as if they're following the characters but shouldn't be, as if looking into dangerous lives.

For my own film opening I would like to experiment using the keyhole shot, or something similar, as well using a split shot which helps to show more in less time. I also like the various angles of shots which show the simplistic but interesting locations. I will attempt to replicate the setting by making my location look 'emptier'. The music is very dramatic and is similar to the music I want for my final opening.