Opening Anaylis of 'Dead Mans Shoes'

The opening scene in ‘Dead Mans Shoes’ has various interesting editing cuts; the home videos which concentrate on the two boys switch and change often between the shots of the two men walking, the flashbacks clearly show that the boys are the same people. The home videos show the boys growing up starting from the older brother as a baby to adults where we see them on their journey. I can identify that the home video’s are old because of the distorted black scratchy filter that has been added on the shot. Another effect used in the opening scene is a merging crossover fading cut from one of the flashbacks back to what we assume is the fictional reality of the film.

During the opening scene a number of different camera shots are used from VLS to the VCS shots on the home videos. I find it hard to identify if the home videos are authentic or professional shots made to look ammeter. The camera shots that show the isolated brothers walking always shows one brother more willing than the other, they always show the same brother in front whilst the other slumps behind. During the entire opening scene the camera is always focused on either both or one of the brothers, portraying that they are the main focus of the film.

The scene is accompanied by the song ‘Vessel In Vain’ by Smog, it has a strong connection to the whole opening as they brothers are literally seen as on the run as some of the songs lyrics repeat the phrase ‘on the run’, another example of the song connecting to the shots is when the song includes the word ‘smile’ when it is sang a shot of a VCS flashback including a man smiling is used, I felt the song choice was clever as it connected to more than one aspect of the shot taken. As the song sped up so did the cuts I liked that it had gradual increase throughout the opening scene.

The mis en scene of the scene shows that the two brothers are walking through various destinations including a road, through a forest and over hills this scene is very isolated in the fact that expect from the home video the brothers are completely alone equipment with nothing but a bag hanging from the older brother hand. There is a contrast from the flashbacks to their reality as there is a sense of happiness in the flashbacks that isn't present in the other shots. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the opening scene, I liked how the song used connected to what was happening on screen, even though I disliked the similar shots that where taken of the two older brothers as i felt that it was a bit repetitive I did though enjoy watching them on their journey to the barn which we briefly saw at the end increasing our desire to continue watching.