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1. FILM BEGINNING ANALYSIS
Film: Saving Private Ryan
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Robert Rodat
Genre: War, Drama, Action
Running Time: 2h 49m
Release date: September 11, 1998
In the opening scene we see an elderly man walking ahead of what looks like his family.
Enigma codes are used to make the audience question who the man is and where he is?
We then cut too an establishing shot of a World War II cemetery – this introduces the
audience the theme and genre of the film, as well as the characters you are likely to meet in
the film. A waving American flag and French flag is shown above the graves. This gives
further indication to the identities of the character as you know they fought for the allies in
the war. Giving the audience many assumptions as to whom this old man is.
The old man then kneels next to a specific grave and starts to cry. This shows the
relationship between him and the dead solider, this gives a slight hint to the audience that an
important character will die.
The scene then cuts to a beach covered in a Czech hedgehogs (anti-tank obstacles). This
shows the audience the setting of scene. The date is also significant in giving the audience
an indication of the setting/plot as this is the date of the D-Day landings. The text then
reveals that the scene is taking place Omaha Beach, a massive allied landing point. We are
then introduced to the main character, this is shown by the way the camera specifically
focuses on the character in a group of 15 solders. This is also shown as he is central to the
shot. A close up is used to show his shaking hand – showing nervousness. I feel this is
particularly effective as at the time other action films were filled with gun-hoe “super solders”
who were extremely brave and survived every situation. The nervousness of the character
demonstrates the realism in the film as it is an accurate portrayal of how the soldiers were
feeling at the time.
It then cuts to a close up of his face as he begins saying orders to the solders, this tells us
that he is their leader and probably a captain – this is also demonstrated by the rank on his
helmet. He delivers the orders very calmly saying “I’ll see you on the beach”. This gives a

2. very positive attitude to a very negative situation showing his leadership and further
devolving his character.
Overall I think this is a very successful film opening as it introduces a very recognisable
character and situation but provides us with new interpretations of it. The sound effects add
to the in-depth realism and help put the audience into the solders shoes. I feel all this hooks
the audience in and makes them want to watch the rest of the film – especially as the
character of “Private Ryan” hasn’t been introduced yet.