Film opening analysis thelma and louise

1. Film Opening Analysis: Thelma & Louise (1991)
The opening establishing shot shows deserted plains and mountains underneath picturesque clouds
with a long inviting road stretching away from the audience, tinted to black and white tones. This
immediately setsthe locationasSouthernUSA,andas the filmprogresseswe learnthe protagonists’
journey takes them from Arkansas, through Oklahoma and Colorado to Arizona.Whilst the opening
credits roll, the setting is reinforced by the Southern folk/country music accompanying the shot, as
the natural colours of the location gradually filter back, painting the scene as hot and relaxed and
introducing one of the main themes of the film: freedom. The scene fades to black and the music
transitions into a more upbeat county song with a female singer, then there is a cut to a busy diner
scene.Immediately,despite the crowdedandeye-catchingscene filledwithstaff andcustomers,the
audience is drawn to one waitress as the camera pans to track her movement, keeping her in the
centre of the frame asshe walksfromone side of the dinertothe other,servingpeople.The shotthen
cuts to a low, medium close up shot, putting the audience in the positon of two young female
customersas the maincharacter Louise crossesintothe frame.The camera cuts again to capture the
girls’reactionsas Louise advisesthemnot to smoke as it will ‘ruintheirsex drive’,howeverthe next
cut showsLouise inthe backof the dinerlightingacigarette,introducingherasan‘oldersister’ figure
who doesn’t necessarily take her own advice but looks out for others, which becomes increasingly
apparentas the filmprogresses.The shot remainsstatic,withLouise remainingthe focuson the left
side as her colleagues bustle around the rest of the frame, conveying the hectic and claustrophobic
work-lifeLouise leads.Althoughthe musicisn’tobviouslysourcedinthe diner,the dineratmosphere
impliesthe use of music, and thisis confirmedwhenthe shot cuts from Louise pickingupthe phone
to Thelma’shouse where itrings,andthe musiccuts to playwhenthe shotis of Louise andreturnto
silence whenthe shotisof Thelma,meaningitisdiegetic.Ithinkthisopeningisincrediblyeffectiveat
setting the scene for the rest of the film and instantlygivesthe audience a lot of information about
the main characters and themes.