Snatch opening sequence
- 1. Snatch Opening Sequence In the opening sequence of Snatch you are introduced to the main characters through the credits that appear in time with the short snippet of each character. You are not shown the names of the actors but just the character’s name. However, some actors may be recognisable such as Brad Pitt who carries iconoclastic baggage of being in Crime/Action/Thriller films such as ‘Seven’ or ‘Troy’. The first thing we see is a van of characters getting undressed, as if they have been wearing other clothes, in disguise of being Orthodox Jews (costume, mise- en-scene). This is accompanied with some fast-paced music (non diegetic soundtrack, the sound includes a sort of ticking noise which connotes a time limit/gives the audience a rushed feeling) and fast cutting (editing). The van connotes they are involved with crime or the police force as criminals often hide in the back of a van. Their white t shirts may connote that they are prisoners or work as a team as they are all wearing similar/the same one which looks quite uniformed. Shortly after we are presented with a diamond that gets zoomed in on quickly (with fast paced editing). This connotes that the diamond will have significance in the film and is probably a main prop. We might think this due to the title being layered on top of it. The title is positioned centrally in a bold, capitalised sans serif font. The title is underlined (highlighting the importance of the title) and has a full stop at the end. The full stop might suggest that someone is caught or that something is going to end. As the scene goes on we see many clear conventions such as low key lighting which connotes mystery and suspicion. There are also typical features of mise- en-scene, such as the costumes, including suits and props such as a gun and briefcase. The suspense throughout the beginning also leaves the audience feeling enigmatic (Barthes Codes) as they are presented with mystery. The audience might ask themselves why they are in disguise and who the characters may be. Match on action is demonstrated when the diamond is zoomed out on and zoomed back in on with the character who is holding the magnifying glass. The magnifying glass connotes that he is a very analytical person and so might be a detective as this is a stereotypical prop (mise-en-scene) of a detective. We are also introduced to his name ‘Cousin Avi’ where the scene pauses for a slight second and his face is turned into a almost grey scale animation to capture his face and the character’s name clearly. His name has stars above and below which connotes he is the starring character as he is also the first character we are properly introduced to or it could signify he is a Jew, which could be a
- 2. possible explanation for the costumes (mise-en-scene) that looked jewish i.e. the hats and the long coats. The camera then (with use of fast paced editing and cuts again) pans around to the filing cabinet and the door then we are introduced to another person who opens the cabinet from ‘the other end’ (match on action). We then see he is smoking a cigar and looks fairly casually dressed (costume, mise-en-scene). His gold chain necklace could stereotypically suggest he is part of a ‘gang’ and we gather he is careless as he chucks money across the room. Again, the characters name appears in the white, bold font which suggests there is an ongoing graphical theme. However, there is no star next to his name this time which might signify that he isn’t a key character/a jew. Similarly, the rest of the characters are introduced (Mickey (jew), Vinny (jew), Franky Four fingers (jew), Turkish (jew), Gorgeous George, Tommy (jew), Bullett Tooth Toney (jew), Boris the Blade (jew), Doug the Head, Brick Top (jew)) through props such as jewellery and money being thrown in through one scene to the next. This has been made possible by fast paced continuity editing. Franky Four Fingers is presented to us in a casino where he is gambling with other men (set design, mise-en-scene). This portrays that he is troublesome and is involved with money/stealing. Other characters such as Gorgeous George are presented to us by boxing a punch bag emphasising his strength as a main characteristic. Brick top is presented as a violet person as he is hitting someone’s tooth with a hammer and chips it. The tooth then fades and turns into the diamond. After the opening credits, it reverts back to the van. The character then kisses the diamond which emphasises that it is ‘precious’ or ‘important’. He then places it in the briefcase in a special box with newspaper on top suggesting it is stolen or very valuable as it’s being hidden so well. The audience are interpellated to feel more anticipation and will have enigmas (Barthes) such as ‘What is the purpose of the diamond?’ and ‘Why does one of the men have a gun?’. The men start speaking (diegetic dialogue) saying “Give me your gun” and “Call this number…”. Their diegetic dialogue is layered on top of sounds of police and ambulance sirens, reinforcing the films genre is crime. Their conversation is very short and professional emphasising that they are speaking ‘business’ and do not know each other on a personal level. When the Foreign sounding man says “If you want the gun, call this number” suggests he is giving the other man a contact when he is in London. The audience are then interpellated to feel enigmatic about what is going to happen to him in London.