Film opening analysis

Love Actually

Love actually is a romantic comedy. The main theme in the opening of this film is love; this is portrayed in a number of ways. The establishing shot is in a crowd of people in an airport, the camera shot shows the tops of the people’s heads in the crowd, this makes the audience feel as if they were in the crowd themselves and shows that it may be a characters point of view. Then when the voice over of Hugh Grant come in it clarifies that it is a character point of view. In the voice over Hugh talks about love in his opinion and how it can come in different forms, this gives then makes the audience create a first impression if the character. The camera focuses on people in an airport being reunited, they show the characters hugging and kissing which straight way follows the genre of this film. The slow, calm sound of the music shows happiness of being reunited with their loved ones. Also from the voice over the sound of the characters voice sounds upper class which again may add to the audience’s first impressions of the character. In the opening of this film there are a lot of close ups of the people reuniting which makes the audience relate to them and share their emotions that they are feeling. The slow changes between the shots emphasize the actions of the characters love and embrace. The location, Heathrow arrivals hall contrasts with what is shown in the opening. An airport is usually associated with people rushing about but the opening shows a calm arrivals hall where loved ones are reuniting.
The opening of Love Actually uses sound, camera work, editing and mise en scene giving the audience first impressions of the film and the characters within it.