The Vow Analysed Opening Sequence

The Vow begins with a cinema and driving scene. What we first hear is instrumental music (non-diegetic sound) to go with what we first see which is a reverse crane shot show the two main characters exiting the cinema. Then the camera pans to show the audience what these two see which is an empty street with parked cars covered in snow. The titling sequence is played throughout the opening sequence. A minute into the opening, the other people in the cinema exit so what we hear is distant chatter (diegetic sound,) and during this the main title comes up on screen but it then they blur out the background to help focus on the title.

The mid shot was then used to show the audience that she's getting in the car. It then cuts to a two shot where the camera is at the back of the car; this shot shows intimacy and that they're close.You then hear the seat belt click, the car door slam, the engine starting and then as the characters sing along and laugh. These are all examples of diegetic sound. When they are driving, they use reverse shots to allow the dialogue to flow.

They then come to a stop the pan shot allows the the car to move the the right side of the frame to the centre, making the colour of the car noticeable. The colour of the car is red and as the main heroine of the movie is wearing a red coat to it suggests danger and blood, but the colour red also connote love and passion, either way they both have the representation of pain and hurt in common. Apart from this colour, because its set during the night time and the place is isolated it suggests that something bad is going to happen and also because its dark this represents negativity. When the heroine takes off her seatbelt and talks about moments, the hero then uses a voice over to explain his theory about 'moments of impact' whilst it quickly cuts to the truck behind them crashes into the car. The side window shatters and because she didn't have her seatbelt on, she goes through the wind shield. The camera tracks this impact which then cuts to a crane shot where you can see her laying on the hood of the car unconscious.