Analysing Film Openings - PS I Love You

Scene Summary- P.S I Love You.

 This film starts off quite conventionally. We start with the slides of credits and production logos etc. The first 7 slides name the film production companies  but do not actually name the film itself.

 We start off from a fade to black  from a title slide then into light which forms an establishing shot of what seems to be a rough part of a city based on the graffiti on the walls etc. The establishing shot is a high angle shot as it seems to be taken from the sky. There is then a tracking shot down a street passing a few pedestrians. We then cut to a mid shot as we can see we are on a street. Then the first character emerges from steps that she is taking that leads to the street. This could suggest she is coming out of the subway. At that point no one is with her. However then we cut to a mid shot of her and another character behind her which is a male. In this shot they are both on either end of the shot which could suggest they do not know each other or they are annoyed at each other.

We then follow the women and the man as they make their way up the street. We then realize they are together as they man keeps calling the women’s name however she does not respond. This reinforces the idea she is annoyed or they are even in a row.

 We cut to another establishing shot with the main focus on a block of apartment buildings. This leads us to the conclusion that this is maybe their home or flat. We then straight away cut into a long thin hallway with a door at the end. The women is still in front which suggests she is still in control and angry. The man follows quickly behind as they both head towards the staircase. This is not just straight but is a round stair case that seems to have a lot of floors.

 The next shot is a P.O.V and a low shot in the woman’s viewpoint of the man. He has his head down looking at the step of the stairs as he is about to walk up. Because he has his head down it could suggest that he is sorry or ashamed.

We quickly move to the camera following the woman up the stair but this time in the man’s perspective. We then quickly and swiftly cut to the woman’s  perception again. We can also see some more of the movements and gestures. He has both of his hand out and up which reinforces the idea he is making an apologies. Finally once again we move back into the man’s standpoint of the woman. This shot is very interesting as we can see more of the woman. But also this shot makes it seem that the man looks up to the women and respects her as it is a very low shot as well and by the use of making it look up it makes the women seem to have more power but also more respect.

 Finally the shot moves to an aerial shot of the stair case from the top floor of the building. We can slightly see both the characters this is just used as it gives a different approach to the scene. Also it makes the next shot a bit more dramatic as in that shot it shows most of the staircase and hall way which both have quite dark colors however when we cut to the mid shot of the man standing by the door in their apartment the colors are completely different they are more relaxed and calm.

 During the opening part of the movie there were six main slides each showing something different mainly the name of the production company etc. the transition from each of the slides and finally into that movie was just a fade to black transition.

 Not much happens in the opening two minutes of this movie, which is quite normal. However we do know that the couple in question are rowing what is good about the first two minutes is that is makes us want to carrying on watch if not the whole film then just to find out why they are rowing as the use of different shots and camera angles makes the actual scenes on screen seem real.

 

This is an establishing shot. Showing where the beginning scene is going to take place. This shot may suggest the movie will be at quite a fast pace and it is in a city, which is always busy and moving, quite fast.

 

This is a mid shot showing the first influential character. who seems to be making her way into the shot by coming up some stairs. Suggests that it is coming up from a subway which is associated with America. This shows us for definite where the movie is taking place.

 

Again this is a mid shot but this time showing the two main characters. The man is walking behind the women, this could suggest he follows her and this could then show that he listens to her which shows is in control and has the power in this scene. Also both the characters are at either end of the shot shows distance between them. This may suggest some sort of feud between them.

 

This is another establishing shot mainly showing the particular apartment building. This may suggest the two main characters are heading for there as we can the women’s back as she is walking towards that building.

This long shot shows a hall which sets the location for the next scene which seems to be in that hall for much of the next scene. It is a long shot and you can barely see the characters’ faces but it is the woman once again she is still in front of the man.

 

This is a high angle shot which is looking down at the man. He seems to have his head down which suggests he is sorry or embarrassed. The shot may also be a P.O.V shot as the woman has walked up a few steps already so she maybe looking down, this again reinforces the idea that she has the power in this scene.

 

This is most definitely a low angle P.O.V shot in the man’s perspective. Showing the woman who looks as though she is ignoring him.

 

This is a P.O.V shot from the woman’s viewpoint; seems to show the man is apologizing.

 

This is another P.O.V shot this time from the man’s standpoint. The women seems very angry, reinforces the idea they are in a fight. This time we get to see her character in a bit more detail. The P.O.V shots seem to be a quite reoccurring shot.

 

This is an aerial shot from the top of inside the building showing where the two characters are walking. It is showing the location of the stairway. This is quite a good shot as it is different and intriguing.

 

The last shot shows a mid shot of the man as he has walked into their apartment after the woman. The color of the apartment is completely different to the hallway, it is more relaxed however the contrasts the atmosphere of the apartment as both the characters start fighting.

Titles and Credits:

Sound in the scenes from- P.S I Love You

The first sound we hear from the movie is when the credits are showing on the scene. It is very uplifting and happy music which I believe is being played on the guitar. Then a man joins in singing quite sweet romantic lyrics talking about “how he will be there for her”. This immediately makes you believe that the film is going to be based on a love story, that will be very romantic. This song is then continually played even when the establishing shot has been shown. We can also hear background sound of cars and buses from the traffic on the roads. Then all of a sudden we can hear footsteps and the two main characters appear. Neither one says any dialogue but the music is still being played which tells us it is non-diegetic music that only the audience can hear and not the characters. We then cut to the sound of someone opening a door we hear this before we see it take place of screen but then a shot cuts to the door as it is being opened. Once again no dialogue is happening we can only hear footsteps. Mean while the song that started at the beginning of the film is still playing. As the movie progresses we begin to hear dialogue of the two characters and we realize that they are in an argument. We hear more footsteps as they make their way up the staircase. They both are now beginning to get quite annoyed and are arguing on the way up to their apartment. The non- diegetic sound now actually becomes asynchronous sound as the sound as it is contradicting what we see on the screen. Which is two people having an argument therefore it is unlikely that a happy love song should be played while they are arguing.