The Silence of The LambsOpening analysis

By Lauren Stewart

About the film The Silence of the Lambs is an 1991 American Psychological Thriller directed by Jonathan Demme. Actress Jodie Foster is portrayed as the main protagonist who is an FBI Student who is assigned to interview a Former Psychiatrist and Cannibalistic Serial Killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

Camera AnglesThe first camera angle from the opening scene appears to be a high angle shot at a far distance away from the protagonist to display a weak and submissive portrayal and an inferior status at the first seconds of the scene. High Angle shots are used to make the character seem vulnerable and powerless due to the camera being Positioned at eye level.

Mise-En-SceneThe Location is an isolated forest with melancholy and foggy weather that builds up suspense to the plot of the film. Which is a typical convention in thriller films and use it in mise-en-scene to create the feeling of tension and mystery amongst the audience as the only perspective the audience can see is through the setting and location.

Most of the expectations of the

film the audience gather is from

the concept of the settings.

Camera AnglesThe next is a tracking shot of the protagonist dressed in athletic clothing which implies she is very athletic and a determined individual.

The close-up shot of the protagonist is used to intensify

her facial expressions the diegetic sound of her heavily

breathing is evident as she runs closer to the hill

the camera slowly pans closer to her face to imply the her

occupation due to the Jumper having an F.B.I logo which

implies professionalism.

Editing The Classic Monochrome colours of the title sequence is reminiscent of The titles used similarly Alfred Hitchcock;s Films . The positioning of the titles are in the centre and do not transcend but stay in the centre and disappear rapidly.

To stimulate the audience’s vision on the background instead of the title.

Sound

The diegetic sound is the Orchestrated Soundtrack

with the overpowering sound of the string instruments

for example the violins provide a high screeching noise to help disorientate the viewer’s audible experience similarly in the famous soundtrack in Hitchcock’s film Psycho.

The director uses the technique of foreshadowing with the words on the tree to imply the themes that will be evident in the theme.

Editing The use of a match-cut is used as the location of the opening has transcended in a more professional setting to explore the work ethic of the protagonist.

The diegetic sound of the orchestra soundtrack is not evident and the diegetic sound of the workplace and people talking is now evident to display professionalism

and normality. The protagonist warmly greets her

colleagues and hi-fives them to display positive social

interaction with them.

Ending Shot The ending shot appears to be a medium shot of the female protagonist surrounded by Male workers in this shot she is portrayed to have a weak and inferior status.

Due to her height but is positioned in the centre for the audience to be focused on her and she is the only one wearing a different colour to contrast the other red shirts

which implies uniqueness and a student status.

Conventions of CharactersIsolated characters are eventually presented as a victim/damsel in distress role.

And later adapt the hero/heroine role.

Police/FBI- implies legal thriller aspects.

Target AudienceSilence of the lambs will attract a mainly male dominated audience of the typical young adult age. This is because they’re drawn in by the conventional male leads, and can relate certain characters to people they know or even themselves, connecting and engaging the audience with the film/characters (both protagonists and antagonists). This male age range is also drawn into the action aspect of the crime thrillers.