Analysing the opening of Delicatessen

 

Exposition 

In the opening sequence, we can see that it is set in France, due to the fact the language of the written text is french and the music playing is on an accordion setting a french tone. The music is non-diegetic and post-production. We are shown an establishing shot of a broken building covered in thick yellow fog, it could be assumed that the building has been bombed. The time frame seems to be in the 50s-60s. We are shown to be in a butcher's. The font of the writting be highly cursive also indicates that this set is based in France.  

Setting Tone 

Dark humour is predominantly used throughout each scene including when the man escapes just to end up back inside the butchers, as well as the grim deep laugh the butcher has as he sees the man, indicates french humour (dark, sinister). The music however is more joyful creating a juxtaposition between the scenario and what is actually going on. Suspense for the man is strongly used throughout the scene with a pov shot prodominately when the man is in the bin listening to the movement of the truck.Throughout this opening sequence to add to the humour the actors have been seen to over exaggerate movements such as when the man is concerned in the bin his eyes bulge out, this is done to show suspense and create humour. The swing of the knife done by the butcher also expresses this idea of dark humour as he is smiling while taking big swings at the man who tried to escape the butchers grasp. To build suspense throughout the opening sequence the audience is denyed information, as an audience member you are given no information of why the man is frantically trying to hide and this therefore creates a bigger suspense for the viewer. Cannibalism is strongly referenced throughout the opening scene this is because he is a butcher that is chopping up humans in a butchers.

Structure of sequence 

The structure of the sequence is very discreet (separate from film) this is because we are shown multiple clips in which creates a big separation between the butcher and the man hiding this is until the end of the opening sequence,another example of this would be Bond.The editing style is very fluent as we follow the characters more than abrubtly cut between the two characters this creates more fluidity between scenes. The music being more upbeat creates a juxtaposition adding to the idea of french humour in films. The mise on scene is much darker in this using more browns and greys as the primary colours this creates a darker atmosphere adding to the sinister humour. The setting of the butchers is also made to seem quite dirty this also allows the audience to vision this movie to be set in a mutch older time frame, this is because modern day standards are much,much higher. As a viewer you can see by the animation of the title that this is an older movie this is because the animation is very basic and the text is done using default appliances.