Analysis of the opening of Silence of the lambs

The film opens with an extreme establishing shot of space and stars. The titles then begin to appear on screen, with the first title appaearing from some stars shapping an O. The film then cuts into a forest simultaneously showing the titles on screen. Dead trees and a misty weather is the setting of the forest creating a negative/depressing mood. There is also sad/eerie non-diegetic sound in the background. We are then shown a long shot of a lady pulling on a rope. Diegetic sound is used at this moment as she is climbing you can hear her panting. As she reaches the top of the hill, a medium shot is shown here. You can see here facial expressions showing a concerned look, looking right then left. She then begins to run through the forest whilst the titles continue to show. She is in a quite setting and she is alone showing that she is quite vulnerbale. There is a close up tracking shot of her running; medium shots of her torso and medium shots of her legs whilst she is running. The music is still being played adding to the tension of the scene. The lady then begins to climb over an obstacle in her way. We can suggest that she is training to become a part of something, maybe a policewoman as she comes face to face with a man working for the FBI.