Analysis of Love Actually Opening

This title sequence for love actually starts conventionally with thedistributors logos and the production company's logo. For each the thetitles fade in and out. As the last logo appears fully music can be heard.It is slow, and orchestrated creating an emotional feel. The audience isimmediately made to feel relaxed and caring. The title fades to blackand then fades up on what looks like home video footage. We see abackpacker in mid-shot moving through crowds of people. There is nolong shot to let you know your at the airport. The backpacker finds whotheir looking for and they embrace. It is a touching scene. The musiccontinues and credits appear over the image at the bottom of theframe. They are small and dissolve in and out. The couple lovingly kisseach-other as the last production company title appears. We then startto see a montage sequence of various people greeting each-other atthe airport. The camera zooms and reframes to capture the live action.The audience is almost made to feel that they are in the airport viewingthe various greetings . The fourth shot of a woman picking up her childprompts the start of the Voice Over which the audience has to assumeis the main character.

His voice being recognisable to those familiar with the A-listActor. The depth of field is shallow so that the audiencesattention is drawn toward the characters greeting each-other.The voice over reveals that we are at an airport and talks offinding love, that although we might live in a troubled worldlove survives. The twin towers are mentioned which raises thestakes for this film and assures the audience that the film issincere. Finally concluding that love is all around. The titleappears simultaneously. with the word 'is' in red thus implyingthat for any cynic out there love IS actually all around. Theaudience is now prepared for a film about love. The title of thefilm appears over the image of a child being thrown up into theair. The montage is edited with straight cuts and the last'vignette" fades as the voice over ends and the music starts tofall away.

This is a nice introduction to the film. It is not unconventional touse a voice over for the start for the film but what makes this filmis a little more un ique is how it introduces the audience to thetheme of the film as opposed to the characters and setting. I feelthe music is very powerful in creating the mood and tone of thefilm.