An Analysis of the Opening Sequence of Stanley Kubricks...

An analysis of the opening sequence of Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ focusing on the use of generic conventions We frequently consider films in terms of their genre, a French word meaning ‘kind’ or ‘sort’. It is a very complex term, not only used in film but also in other creative areas such as music, art, and literature. However, it is often considered through various conventions including iconography, similar themes and their stylistic features, as Bordwell and Thompson (2006:357) suggest, ‘ style†¦is the formal system of the film that organizes techniques’ such as lighting, props and setting. This repetition of common elements across a series of films allows us as the viewer to identify genre. For example, if a film was to†¦show more content†¦Following this the camera cuts back to Dr Harford who appears to be wearing a smart black suit, which could signify various things, such as an upper class, wealthy figure which could also lead to possible narrative conclusions. The mise-en-scene in this long shot of Dr Bill Harford includes red curt ains, which could symbolize, love or even danger and blood. However, the dominant colour at the beginning of the shot is cool blue. There is a large bookshelf included within the frame of the shot, which could signify that the character is knowledgeable, intelligent and is also a prop commonly know in detective films, linking to the mystery genre. The camera then tracks backwards as the male figure walks towards the camera into another soft-lit room, once again including red coloured curtains, which seems to already be a reoccurring prop. This shot is also a long take, with no edits, which is a popular technique used in drama’s. However as Ciment, Adair and Bononno suggest (2001:226) ‘Kubrick’s frequent use of dolly backs is one of the major recurring stylistic features in Eyes Wide Shut and expresses the ambiguity at the heart of the film: intoxication, loss of consciousness, fainting, dreams.’ Kubrick has already given various clues through the use of generic conventions by the use of stars, props, lighting and sound. However, as Williams (2005:397) suggests, ‘Kubrick has long played with genre, emulating and exemplifying the pinnacles of trash genres