Snatch Opening Sequence

In the opening sequence of Snatch we see the main characters in the film doing something. When we see each character it shows them doing something and then it freezes and zooms in on their face and highlights them with a thin line. A coloured background wipes behind them and then their name appears in a western style typography with a star. This is quite a cartoon style effect. 

  

During the sequence the shot is made to appear as if it was one continuous pan. However, it is not but it is cleverly edited to make it appear so. This makes a really interesting sequence and it also stops the use of boring straight cuts. This effect of one shot is made by using graphic matches. For example, they cut from someone holding a diamond to another person holding a diamond by getting extremely close up and rotating the shot.

This whole opening sequence tells us that the genre of the film is an action thriller. This is because it shows us the characters doing their jobs or hobbies which give us an idea of what type of people they are. We can tell that the film is an action thriller because the characters are fighting in scenes and they are putting people into car boots.

By seeing the characters in the opening sequence we can tell that they are violent and dangerous. We can also tell that they are criminals as they are playing illegal poker games and they have diamonds and lots of money. It also implies that some of them are less violent than others and that some are maybe into the business sides of whatever they are doing. Furthermore, their clothing suggests that they are different types of people.

The sequence also gives the audience an idea as to what the film is about. Their clothing and actions make them appear as criminals which makes you thing that they are going to do something illegal. When they are in the back of the van with guns and they take off their masks it suggests that they have robbed a bank.­­­­­­

 

 



The Mise-en-scene used in this opening sequence is very typical of the thriller genre. It features weapons, cars, money and disguises. These are used in most crime thrillers because they identify to the audience what the criminals are doing and how.

The camerawork in this opening scene is very typical of the thriller genre because it contains lots of graphic matches which allows the continuity of the sequence. It also has a canted/titled shots when the man is thrown in the boot which creates the effect of rage and stress.