Whilst the opening credits are on-screen, the repeating sound of water being sprayed onto a school field is heard. At first the audience doesn't know what this is, until the opening credits are over and the opening wide, long shot is revealed. There is a 'clean' cut to the shot from black that works, and feels natural.
Shortly after, the main protagonist is revealed and a non-diagetic soundtrack fades in. More credits appear on-screen, as they 'fall' or 'slide' into shot in a precise and structured manor. This could provide connotations of things to come.
The soundtrack compliments the visuals on-screen, with the some-what predictable happy, spontaneous orchestral music that drives along what the character is doing.
The editing soon after changes dramatically to quick, snappy jump-cuts that parallel the (newly introduced) character's characteristics. From the edit in-which the girl is setting up a table, placing a bowl on the table and unwrapping packets of chewing gum to place in the bowl, and aligning each clipboard symmetrically, we as the audience subconsciously understand that this character is one in-which perhaps strides to succeed.
The soundtrack then takes a step backwards and slows down its tempo as our main protagonist re-appears in the hallway. What follows is the simple (yet highly effective) editing technique that works;
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| Jim is emptying the rubbish from the fridge into the bin. The audience see's the cleaner come into shot, however Jim does not. |
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| Next we have a POV of the cleaner as he witnesses Jim accidentally chucking something on the floor. |
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| Finally we cut back to the cleaner's reaction of Jim's actions, and he exits the frame to the left.
Another clever and effective editing technique is then used. As the janitor exits the frame to the left, we cut to another shot in which Tracy enters the frame from the right.
Tracy, enters the shot from the right and sits down behind her table.
The soundtrack continues, until Jim meets Tracy in the hallway. The soundtrack then takes a sudden fade to allow us to view/listen the interaction between the two. After a few brief words, the soundtrack fades back in (at a lower volume).
The voiceover then begins when Jim is walking off, and the timing in-which it occurs is perfect that you don't question it what so ever. The opening sequence in a whole feels well gelled, fluent and visually pleasing.
Jim's voiceover segment soon follows, along with a couple of short montages that allow the audience to gain as much information/backstory as possible in a short period of time. The voiceover/montage technique is a great way to 'passover' information effectively and efficiently.
The Ending After analysing the opening scene, I decided to watch the whole film... Overall I enjoyed 'Election', I felt it was a different take on most comedies with its dark humour. I felt it was fresh and new that nothing ever quite goes right for the main character Jim. He loses his wife, loses his job and moves away. I never expected the film to end where it did, it seemed to cut short all of a sudden. However I liked this, it leaves it open to interpretation. The dark humour during the final scene wrapped the film up nicely, as Tracy the student had finally made it into a politician position, Jim sees her and with his drink in one hand, and case in the other stood on the path, he throws his drink at the car Tracy's in as if to say I don't give a damn. |
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