Sully Opening scene - Drama

 

Sully Opening Scene

The first thing we see of the actual film puts the audience on edge,  being on a plane out of control is terrifying to anyone and we're gripped automatically. It cleverly contrasts the pilot with the passengers to show 2 different types of fear, one more controlled and one more expressed -  which helps establish how the rest of the narrative will go, we assume it'll be more of an action than a drama, but we soon see that this isn't the case and this whole sequence is just a figment of his imagination in a dream.

The target audience for this film that we can assume from this short sequence would again be more mature as there are themes explored that are dangerous and scary -  and this may not be appropriate for a younger/ family viewing. Although because this 'plane crash' is at the very start of the film, the rest would just be the aftermath of this and so it may be a story more on loss and grief than action and fast-paced narrative

The camera work from inside the plane and is handheld, making the audience feel like their present in the plane - further engaging us. it also creates a more chaotic and turbulent scene  - combined with the set of it being a confined space where there isn't much room to move about and everyone's falling over each other it creates an unsafe and uncertain atmosphere. 

There's little to no dialogue,  but a little from the captain muttering positive comments to himself which intensifies the fear he doesn't sound certain of himself and the cries of the passengers are louder. The location of where the plane is crashing into is a busy city which, again captivates the audience and will add tension. 

When Sully wakes up, the difference between the 2 scenes are binary opposites, the audience feels relief and the contrast in lighting helps emphasize this, on the plane, it was dark, loud, and stressful  - but waking up - the only sound of him breathing and the calm lighting feels like a fresh start and a new day. However, what this means for the rest of the narrative is subjective to the viewer, some could say that it was foreshadowing a plane crash and others might just think it was the pilot's anxieties. 

Overall,  I think this opening sequence is successful, by means of gripping the audience but it's unclear what the narrative is for the future, we also don't get a feel for the tone that will be set for the remainder of the film.