Analysis of Pulp Fiction opening sequence

Analysis of Pulp Fiction opening sequence

The opening sequence introduces the genre of the film crime fiction, comedy, action, drama and a small part of thriller. The use of Mis-en-scene has a heavy influence on how the audience react to this scene.

To an extent I can tell this from the opening sequence as during the opening title sequence a short 14 second clip which involves a couple: a blonde woman and dark haired man, sitting in the booth of a café expressing their love for each other, using sickly sweet language like ‘I love you honey bun.’ and other one replies like ‘I love you pumpkin.’ This gives the impression that it could be a rom-com but then in a matter of a few seconds they pull out guns and announce they are robbing the café. This is all set in a café to make it even more absurd as an opening scene, as well as the use of the gun introduces the theme of violence and action which is used throughout the film.

Fig.1 Iv'e split the image into 3 thirds the woman takes up almost all the third making her appear dominant to the audience. While the man takes up less. The directors clever use of blocking.

I believe the target audience of the film where adults and teens, I believe this because of the strong use of swearing that in just the first 20 seconds of the film as well as the fact an illegal act is committed: armed robbery. This makes me come to the conclusion that I doubt it will receive an age certificate under 12. The gun is a convention of action because it’s a weapon it shows violence. Mis-en-scene is used with the directors use of blocking; positioning of the character is on a higher level which he has the power in the scene to begin with. But later the woman becomes higher onto the booth but in the medium shot two shot but the man is still lower than her this shows that she has the power in this scene; maybe their relationship, as they are both not on the same level.

From the opening sequence you learn from the characters and the plot that the woman with the blonde hair and the man with the dark hair appear to be quite experienced in armed robbery. I gathered this as they appear, although shouting quite calm and concise with their instructions even with the use of strong language from the blonde woman she still appears to have done it many times before. With so much that could be gathered from the opening sequence it makes the audience intrigued as the use of swear words come as such as a surprise from an unsuspecting couple, makes us wonder if they are full time criminal. So many more questions arise from the opening scene too, why they are doing an armed robbery, are they truly in love or just partners in crime; even whether they have to use their gun.

Fig 2. Pulp Fiction title.

 The text is bright orange on a black screen  this contrasts against the black this enforces the fact it will be a thriller, the black sets a darker atmosphere of the scene this makes the audience assume its action/ thriller. The bright yellow/ orange symbolises fire and gold this shows that there will be a lot of action and danger.

The sound is used in the opening sequence to create suspense and build up as it is quite fast paced pop. This sound is non-diegetic as it is the opening title, it is effective as it still leaves the audience wanting to see more, as it builds up creating anticipation.

Mis-en-scene is used in this sequence because there are props of the café like salt and pepper shakers to the blinds which make it appear more realistic and the armed robbery appear even more absurd. This makes the audience less suspecting of anything out of the ordinary, as they are lulled into a false sense of security by the seemingly ordinary setting of the café.