Silence of The Lambs Analysis

Silence of the lambs is a well known and highly rated film released back in February 1991. Directed by Jonathan Demme, the thriller is based on the Thomas Harris novel and Ted Tally screenplay. I will be discussing the mise en scene, editing, camerawork and sound within the opening sequence of the movie, using screenshots to demonstrate my point.
 The film opens in amongst some trees. We find ourselves in a forest, setting a typical wary scene for the thriller genre. The camera pans downward to reveal a woman running through a forest, using a rope to assist her up the hill (Picture 1). Immediately we presume she is being chased by a phyco killer, using her character as a woman to show her vulnerability. We hear birds and wildlife in the background, along with the panting of the woman. In the next couple of shots we follow her through a tracking shot. The camera is handheld and shaky to accentuate her speed through the forest along with the fast paced continuity editing whig supports this argument (Picture 2). 

At this point the viewer is still using their knowledge of previous thriller films to come to the assumption that she is on the run from danger. The next shot (Picture 3) reveals that these assumptions are false as she comes across netting. From this we gather she is intact completing an assault course. This comes to us as a surprise, as it goes against gender stereotype so often found in this genre. Whilst women are typically shown as weak, vulnerable and frightful, this character represents strength, courage and determination. We get a good look at her sweat stained jumper giving us some time perception as to how long she has been running for, and again reinforcing the elimination of the stereotypical woman image. As we watch her continue the assault course (Picture 4), we hear the deep voice of a man, addressing the woman as 'Sterling'. The fact that she is referred to as her surname gives her some level of importance and respect. This respect is shared between the two, as she replies 'Thank you, Sir'. Evidently this is a formal conversation, again adding to its importance. 

At the conclusion of the conversation between the two characters, we get a close up of man, wearing a fluorescent yellow jacket (Picture 5). This single close up reveals a great deal as to what they are doing there and why. As the camera zooms into the mans face we notice the big, bold letters on his cap which spell 'FBI'. This shot is used to give the viewer more understanding of what is happening in the previous and following scenes. We can tell from this single shot that both man and woman are apart of the Federal Bereau of Investigations, completing a training course. The vertical pan that follows, show four signs; Hurt, Agony, Pain, Love-it (Picture 6). This highlights the attitudes and traits that are taught in the camp and what Ms Sterling is made of.

We soon cut back to the woman, jogging into the large, modern looking building (Picture 7), going past other trainees in the man time taking part in their drills. This sows she is one of many people taking part in these exercises, but the viewer can already tell that Ms Sterling is a character of significance as the camera has been following her movements from the very beginning. Now inside the building, we get an interesting shot of the woman walking into an elevator amongst nine, much taller men wearing the same uniform (Picture 8). Despite her comparatively small stature, she seems unfazed by them, and as we see in the next shot (Picture 9), we notice that she walks out of an empty elevator onto her floor. This demonstrates the passing of time and shows that the other men departed on a lower level, possibly showing the importance of the person (Mr. Crawford) she has been invited to talk to.

Shortly after exiting the lift, the camera focusses on a sign on a door which states 'Behavioural Science Services'. This is a clever shot to tell the viewer in what department they are currently in without the use of sound. From the shot we can tell exactly where we are in the building. In the concluding scene of the opening, Ms Sterling walks into Mr. Crawfords empty room. Her wandering eyes come across a wall, plastered with news articles and gruesome pictures of abused bodies (Picture 11), after a close up of the woman's shocked reaction. The non-digetic background music adds to the dark nature of the articled events, as the camera pans to reveal an ever growing collection of pictures and articles documenting a phyco killer. The final shot of the opening shows the arrival of Mr. Crawford. The camera defocuses on the woman in the foreground to show Mr. Crawford in clarity, suggesting his high level of importance.
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