Harry Brown opening analysis

This is the opening scene to the social realist film Harry brown.

Director:

 Daniel Barber

Writer:

 Gary Young (screenplay) 

Stars:

 Michael Caine,  Emily Mortimer,  David Bradley

Storyline

In England, retired Royal Marine Harry Brown spends his lonely life between the hospital, where his beloved wife Kath is terminally ill, and playing chess with his only friend Leonard Attwell in the Barge pub owned by Sid Rourke. After the death of Kath, Len tells his grieving friend that the local gang is harassing him and he is carrying an old bayonet for self-defense; the widower suggests him to go to the police. When Len is beaten, then stabbed to death in an underground passage, Inspector Alice Frampton and her partner Sergeant Terry Hicock are sent to investigate. They pay Harry a visit but don't have good news; the police have not found any other evidence, other than the bayonet, in order to arrest the hoodlums. This mean that should the case go to trial the gang would claim self-defense. Harry Brown sees that justice will not be granted and decides to take matters into his own hands. (information attained from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289406/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

This film opening does not exactly follow the conventional style of film openings in the sense that it  includes 3 Company dents and 3 titles which, combined, last up to 40 seconds of the film opening. It is unconventional as after the first opening scene 11 more credits appear stating simply who starred in the movie. This section of credentials last approximately 40 seconds also. The titles used  are of a pure black background with white text on top. This gives it a documentary style look of the film which could possibly be connoted to mean that the film itself, even though is fictional, has elements of truth and possibly even illustrates some aspects of impoverished life amongst the worst council estates in England.

This movie can be closely followed with our movie in the sense that it is old Vs. young however in our story old and young come together. The style of this social realist film is much more action packed and could be classed as a thriller due to the gory and sinister nature of the film. This film focuses on the detrimental impact that street gangs have on their neighbouring society. This film can also be compared to 'The Guvanors' in which there is a clash between younger and older street gangs in a rough estate situated in London.

These films have therefore influenced me to proceed with my social realistic short film with a slight twist on the fact that supports the idea of social mobility through two very different men saving each others life in very different ways.