Research - ( Analysis Of Opening Sequence) - Nephthys

Control (2007)


Control is a biolographical film exploring the life of joy divisions lead singer Ian Curtis. The film is filmed in black and white to enhance the fact that it is a film about the past. We are introduced to the scene with a stunning photgraph like close-up of Ian sitting beside his bed. Almost as soon as the scene begins a voice over of Ians inner thoughts play giving the audience an insight into his delicate state of mind. As the camera slightly moves and his facial expressions get clearer we get a feel of his emotions that he is experiencing at the time making us sympathise with him. During the scene hard light is used lighting up the side of Ians face symbolising his dark emotions and thoughts. Slowly he bows his head and the shot cuts to a long shot of the room that Ian is in. Once again only hardlight is used making the room seem dark and mysterious. The position that Ian is sitting in symbolises his character as being lonely and scared. The voice over stops and the scene cuts to the opening credits of the film making the audience wonder if the previous shots were a flashback of somesort. The credits fade into an establishing shot of what seems to be Ians home as he is walking up to it, over the shot written in a white plain font is the location and date where the film is set. As he walks out of the shot it cuts to another shot of a couple of children asking him to pass a ball as they kicked it towards him he ignores them and walks on establishing his character as being an outsider. As he walks away David Bowie "Drive in Saturday" Begins to play showing the era that the film is supposed to be based on. The music still plays as he enters his home, there we get a glimpse of his relationship with him family. The camera then tracks him walking into his room. The lighting of the corridor is dark until he opens his door representing his room as being a place of freedom and joy for Ian. However as he enters his room he shuts his door leaving the audience outside experiencing a feel of not being wanted inside his room. Again symbolising his room as being a somewhat hiding place for him and a comfort zone.