Film Opening Analysis 1: Pride & Prejudice

The Film begins with the Universal and Working title idents. This establishes the institution involved producing the film. 

Whilst the screen is still black, birdsong can be heard. This sound is non-diegetic as you cannot see the scene which the birds are in or the birds themselves. However, this sound becomes diegetic as a scene appears. This birdsong creates a very peaceful atmosphere and it is evident that the film will be calm and it could even hint to the fact that there could  be romance later on as birds are sometimes associated with love. The scene is a time lapse  of the sun rising in the countryside at dawn and is an establishing shot. This tranquility is further echoed by the font used as it is simplistic and fades out slowly. 

The music in this scene is non-diegetic and it is classical music. This adds to the peaceful atmosphere. The music is a piano piece and is very soft/gentle. 

The title of the film, 'Pride and Prejudice' now appears. At this moment the sun also reaches its brightest point, perhaps to bring attention to the title. 

The first character is introduced at this moment. There is a medium close up of her reading a book and walking. The shot is slightly low angle which shows that she is transfixed by the book. As she is introduced first, this could establish that she is a main character.

The next scene is an over the shoulder shot of the same character. At the bottom of the page you can see it says 'The End' which hints to the fact that she is an avid reader, especially as when she shuts the book she runs her hand over it tenderly. Through her dress, it could be assumed that this film is set in the past rather than the present day. She is represented as quite a calm and peaceful character, through the fact that she is going for a walk so early in the morning, and is reading a book. 

The next scene is an establishing shot of the same character reaching a farmyard. This scene further adds to the peace and calmness of the previous scenes as the gentle music is still playing and diegetic animal sounds can be heard. 

We then see the character walk through many lines of washing. This is a tracking shot. From this washing, we can ascertain that the house, which can also be seen, is a large one, perhaps with a large family living in it. This washing also gives us an idea of the season, probably summer, as they would not have done or hung up the washing if it was cold.
In the background, we can see two women who appear to be feeding some chickens. Through this we also can establish that this film is set in the past, through their clothes- long dresses, aprons, bonnets. The lack of farming machines also hints to the time period. 

The character that we have been following then walks past an open door and we can see into the house. The character continues walking but the camera takes us into the house.
The house makes certain of the time the film was set through the painted portraits hanging on the wall.
We see two young girls rush down the stairs, giggling. There is then a seemingly older girl who says their names. This scene establishing three more characters. As the camera pans around the room we see that the family are fairly wealthy. There is another character sitting at a piano. The music that has been playing in the background for the entirety of the opening, merges with the scales that the girl is playing at the piano. 

There is a table in the room which the camera pans round to and on it we can see a jumble of ribbons and a bonnet. This hints that maybe an important event is going to occur, and this is evidence of the process of getting ready for it. 

There is then a cut back to the main character who is walking up the front steps of the house. There is a window and through an over the shoulder shot you can see and hear an older man and woman chatting. The main character pauses and watches them for a moment, chuckles and moves on into the house. When these two characters speak, it is the first proper dialogue of the film which alerts us that what they are saying must be of importance. The fact that the main character is listening to them talking shows that she is part of the household and also that she feels fondly towards them.