Thursday, 3 December 2015

'Wallander' Analysis

'Wallander' uses a large variety of different camera shots to successfully create it's desired effect and draw the audience to the important aspects of the scene. An example of this is the use of an aerial shot at the beginning, which also serves as  an establishing shot as it helps to establish the location that the event is set in by presenting distinctive qualities of the environment to the audience. These provide them with an idea as to where the characters are, which in this case appears to most likely be in Sweden, when viewing the scenery. Additionally, the shot also shows how isolated the characters are, as the green fields show a very minimal amount of houses. This suggests there is a sense of danger, as it would be easy for a crime to take place in an area like that due to the low amount of people around.


Another shot that is used in the clip is a two shot, when the two girls are walking away from the car. This shows them in the same shot, linking them together and showing there is a relation between them. Furthermore, the shot not only connects the two girls together, but also shows that they were both involved in the murder of the man in the car and, as a result, are both threats, which heightens the sense of danger. In addition to this, the shot shows the two girls from the back, creating suspense as the audience is unable to see the girls' faces or identify them in any way. This results in unease amongst the audience.


Thirdly, numerous close up shots can also be found in the clip. For example, the close up used on the hand of the driver the two girls attempted to murder forces the audience to focus on that particular detail of the scene, which as a result allows them to notice that his finger twitches. The audience therefore come to the realisation that the man is still alive, which could have been a detail they had missed if the camera did not focus on such an important quality. To add to this, the close up shot also shows that the man was unarmed, conveying to the audience that it was murder on the two girls' part, rather than self defence, which highlights how cold-blooded what they did was.


The fourth camera shot used that adds an important element to the scene is a tracking shot. This is used when Wallander gets out from his car and begins to walk towards the crime scene, and is soon joined by one of his colleagues. The tracking shot used here shows how, as he is an investigator, his job is filled with crimes such as these and he is a very busy man, never being able to stop and relax. In addition to this, it is also conveyed to the audience that he is clearly a professional, through the way he gets out of his car and begins to walk straight towards the crime scene -- showing him to be work-oriented. The serious way in which the two are walking also expresses the morbidity of the scene, and creates a serious atmosphere.


Finally, the last camera shot is created by a handheld camera, when Wallander is staring at the eldest girl, Sonja. This shot puts the audience in the place of Sonja, therefore making them feel as though they are a part of the scene and causing the audience to be more affected by what is happening in it. In addition to this, the shakiness of the camera realistically replicates the bumpiness of being in the car, making it easier for the audience to feel as though they are a part of the scene and also seeing Wallander through the eyes of Sonja.

Another aspect of 'Wallander' that is important in creating the atmosphere of the scene is the editing. An example of editing used in the clip is the use of cross-cutting, in which the shot alternates between focusing on the teenage girls and focusing on the man in the car. This establishes the connections between them, allowing the audience to understand that the two are connected in some way, and soon come to the conclusion that the girls have murdered him. It also establishes the genre from very early on, and sets the morbid atmosphere of the rest of the scene.

Another piece of editing used is an eye line match, where Wallander looks towards the police car and the shot then cuts to a shot of the two girls in the car. This shows how Wallander has acknowledged the criminals, and also allows the audience to see that the criminals they are talking about are definitely Sonja and her younger sister, as a result presenting the connection between all of the characters.

Thirdly, the editing overall is very slow paced, consequently forcing the audience to take in what they are seeing and understand the brutality behind it. This is most prominent during the succession of scenes in which the two girls are walking away from the car, therefore causing a sense of dread to build, as well as the overall grim nature of the scene to stand out.
Inserts are also used in the scene, specifically at the beginning where there is a long shot of the man in the car before a shot of the knife is inserted. This creates a more effective 'shock', as before the knife is seen the audience would assume that there has been a car crash and that it was consequently an accident. The knife then counters this, and shocks the audience as it shows it was actually a deliberate murder.

Finally, the editing also features parallel editing throughout the clip, alternating between the two girls, the man in the car and Wallander. As a result, it creates an overwhelming atmosphere as it appears as though so much is going on at once and gives a busy effect to the scene. Furthermore, this editing also connects all of the characters together and shows that each of the events are related.

Mise-en-scene also provides a large, varied amount of detail to the clip. For example, costume is used to effectively portray stereotypes to the audience and allow them to get an idea of the character simply from appearance. This is shown in the two teenage girls, particularly Sonja. Both characters have adopted a 'rebellious' fashion, wearing black and large hoop earrings. In addition, Sonja has streaks of red in her hair, and is also wearing a razor blade as a necklace. These both connote violence, with the red being a possible representation of danger, and the razor blade effectively being a weapon. Instantly, the audience receive an impression of the girls to be violent, rebellious teenagers.

Colouring is also important in setting the mood of the scene. The entirety of the clip has a blue tint to it, resulting in a feeling of gloominess and solemnity. It works to make the audience uneasy, and is also advantageous in making the blood splatters used in the scene contrast more -- causing them to be more gruesome and shocking,

In addition to this is props, such as the knife that is held by Sonja towards the beginning of the scene. This helps the audience to make the connection between the two girls and the man's death, as well as creating a plot twist as before the knife is seen it could be assumed the man had died in a car crash, but once the knife appears it becomes clear it was murder.
It also shows how violent the two girls are and establishes them as antagonists.

Another prop is the ID card shown in the man's car. Whilst this does not necessarily provoke any particular emotion in the audience, it serves to provide them with some information about the man such as that his name is Johan, without it having to be said with dialogue. This ensures that there does not have to be any dialogue that seems unrealistic or over exaggerated, and that less time has to be spent explaining who he was when the Wallander and his colleague begin to talk about him. 

The last prop, and aspect of mise-en-scene, is a key ring of Johan and a family relative, most likely his son. This, similarly to the ID card, gives the audience insight in to the life of Johan and makes the murder more dramatic, as well as providing information that can be incorporated into the show later on.


Following on from this is soundtrack. The clip predominately uses diagetic sound for effect, such as the use of sound perspective. This is heard when the camera continually switches between the two girls and the man in the car, with the muffled, static noise of the radio cutting in and out with the switching of the shot. As a result, an eerie atmosphere is created, as the sound is constantly changing between the static of the radio and the heavy breathing of Sonja, building tension in the scene as the audience begin to realise it was a murder.

Relating to this, the song that is coming from the radio sounds ironically happy when it is compared with the scene where it is playing. It is quite upbeat, yet the camera is showing an image of a man who has been murdered. These two aspects juxtapose each other, which makes the audience confused and creates a feeling of unease at how abnormal it is.

Other pieces of diagetic sound, such as the wind whistling when the aerial shot is panning over the setting of the clip, work to create suspense and therefore makes the sudden shot of the girls walking and then the man in the car more of a shock to the viewer, as it is unexpected.

A fourth example is ambient sound. This is used most effectively towards the end of the clip, in which there is no music and you can simply hear the murmur of policemen talking and the wind. This abrupt silence in the scene highlights the serious ambience of it, as well as giving the audience to fully reflect on what they have just watched in order for it to have a bigger impact.

The final example is the sharp noise and sudden cut off during the switch of the aerial shot to the two shot, conveying to the audience that something is wrong even before the crime scene is shown and it is simply establishing the location. Instantly, the audience is able to take a hint from the noise as to what sort of genre the show is.



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