Analysing the Opening Sequence to the Film 'Pulp Fiction', directed by Quentin Tarantino

The film 'Pulp Fiction' belongs to the genre American gangster, at this point in time (1994) Tarantinos work inspired a 'new wave' of gangster directors to do something different. The typical codes and conventions which you are likely to see in an American Gangster movie and their main iconic traits which come with this genre are violence, drugs and crime etc. This film plays with familiar conventions and the audiences expectations, it conforms with the idea of postmodernism and keeps the audience guessing because it is always challenging the ideas of a typical British gangster film. Both the characters are expressing their love for eachother but are also plotting to commit crime and robbery's, BUT it is more like Bonnie and Clyde, the way in which they act towards eachother is not masculine, violent nor dark etc instead they are a loving couple and are both willing to do anything for eachother but however, in a illegal method. In the opening sequence of the film the audience’s expectations are not properly fulfilled and the reason behind this is because these two people look like ordinary members of the public. However basing your opinion on first look is misguiding and it’s only when you begin to listen to their conversation you notice that they live a more excitable and risky life compared to that of a normal law abiding citizen. They are sitting in the coffee shop like all the other regular people and their dress code does not stand out from the rest and look out of place when you associate them in an iconic gangster film. Your stereotypical view of what a gangster should look like is, well dressed in an expensive suit, looking slightly more upper class than all the other people. The director of the film plays around with the characteristics and codes and conventions of the genre because this is not what you expect to happen in an American gangster film. The two stock characters do not share the same image which you expect to see in a gangster film but their actions and behaviour certainly match. The director also leaves the audience guessing weather or not these two stock characters are actually gangsters or just ordinary tough living people who for some reason decide to rob a calm coffee shop.

The mise-en-scene is set inside a coffee shop/restaurant, this connotes a sense of security where you would expect peace and a place where people can interact with each other and socialise. However tension between both sets of people is caused when the stock characters decide to hold up the coffee shop and this completely disrupts the calm and friendly atmosphere and inevitably causes a dis-equilibrium. In the early stages of becoming a Gangster, their behaviour is certainly pointing them in the right direction, the use of repeated swear words and the pointing of guns convey meaning and purpose to the crime they are about to commit. The background which is used is just focussed on the two main characters and a window. The audience is given a clear view and are able to spot the trees which connote a sense of calmness and tranquillity this helps to camouflage the characters from their true intentions by showing a neutral background. The use of weapons in the first scene shows the two characters as violent and using excessive force to get what they want, this connotes that they are tough mentally and will cause injury to the other people if they were to resist instructions and refuse to hand over the money.
The opening camera shots and angles are used to create different effects on the audience and emphasises what is happening to create excitement and tension and inevitably dis-equilibrium. The camera is positioned at a MS for most of the opening sequence, it captures both the stock characters facial expressions and is easy to see which person is talking and the way they shape their body to emphasise intent or anger. The overall opening sequence is not fast paced edited, it is dialogued driven between the two characters and used continuity editing. The camera then switches to the waitress’s face with a BCU; the denotations of her face make her out to look friendly and helpful. She has a smile upon her face to emphasise the friendly atmosphere around the coffee shop and helps deceive the audience’s expectations that something bad is going to happen. The bright friendly smile also connotes innocence to herself and perhaps to the other people positioned inside the shop. The use of a point of view shot helps the audience relate to what one of the main characters is seeing and helps the audience relate more to what is going on. There is only a small amount of various camera shots during the opening sequence of pulp fiction. Most of the way through it just stays on one steady medium shot of the two stock characters and listens to their conversation. The use of sound is used to anchor images while they are sitting in the restaurant you can hear a fait sound of a piano playing in the background to the main set. This connotes a sense of maturity in the restaurant and the calm, peaceful atmosphere is helped created by the use of a piano. Furthermore in the background you can hear people talking around the restaurant, this conveys an innocent social atmosphere around the main two characters that are essentially plotting the reasons why they should partake in an armed robbery. There are no backing tracks in this opening sequence of the film right up until the couple stand up and begin to point their guns at people, the opening sequence then stops and you have a freeze frame and then music begins to play. This connotes that when there is action taking place for example holding up the coffee shop, music is essential to shape the audiences view of these two characters and inevitably it creates an enigma. The degree of dialogue in this first opening sequence is pretty much constant throughout. There isn’t a great change in the way the characters talk to each other, their conversation is very simple which helps them fit in with their surroundings and people around them. At the end of the opening sequence both of the characters stand up and begin using excessive swear words (particularly the woman character) this connotes them as looking tough and efficient at what they are trying to achieve and they will inflict damage on other people and even go as far as killing them. Before they stand up they use non verbal dialogue as a way to show the audience that they are a couple by passionately kissing each other. This connotes a sense of unity between the two of them and they have each other covered at any given time because they feel strongly about each other.


The narrative in the opening sequence of the film 'Pulp Fiction’ is structured to show the audience how people can just camouflage themselves so easily to fit in with others but on the inside they could be plotting to commit a crime. It shows the innocence and the laid back atmosphere which starts out inside the coffee shop/restaurant and how quickly it can turn bad and people can just change the way they act at any given time if they chose to. The audience is led to believe that this is just a normal couple sitting inside a friendly restaurant and at first glance you would never expect them to be gangsters. However once you listen to the conversation they are having, it becomes a completely different situation and the audience has increased suspicion over them and to what they are going to do next. You picture your typical iconic gangster to be completely different to these two, you expect them to be smart, well groomed men and have a large scale of people fear them. The two stock characters however are not iconic to its genre ‘American Gangster’. The two stock characters in the shop are alienated and are somewhat tear-aways from the working class people in America. They have completely different views on how the should go about earning their money and they believe the best way to do so is to break the law and steal money. They adopt a one track mind and use violent and criminal methods to gain money via big robberies in banks supermarkets etc. The two stock characters towards the end of the opening sequence cause dis-equilibrium and disrupts the calm mood and sends people into panic. The opening sequence then come to an end and an Enigma is caused where people want to find out what will happen next in the restaurant. The major themes in this sequence are not extremely evident throughout, however, the use of violence, weapons and harsh language are typical and iconic of a gangster film. From listing these themes the audience can clearly see which genre this specific film belongs to as it shows typical traits of a British gangster film and is easily recognisable. The tension in the opening sequence is not very evident when the two main characters are sitting there like normal every day people until they start to talk about various robbery techniques and plotting their next one. When the two characters stand up and start pointing their guns at people the tension is maximised because it creates an enigma for the audience and also will create tension for the other characters in the scene.
The only social group which is being represented in the opening sequence of this film are mainly young male audiences and even now female audience can relate to this because one of the characters is a woman. The fact that one of the characters is a woman creates an ideological discourse because in the modern day society you would not expect this behaviour to stem from a woman and people stereotype that men are the only ones that commit crime. The audience are not able to side with the characters because a dis-equilibrium is caused and the way in which the stock characters act towards the general public, the audience watching can relate to this and put themselves in the point of view of the other people inside the restaurant and imagine the distress they are putting up with. Therefore the audience will have no sympathy for these two stock characters and portray them as the enemy. The ideologies which come with being a gangster is to be well groomed, wearing smart suits, own a posh car and live in a spectacular house. However at the start of this opening sequence it is unexpected and the ideological discourse is that you see these two main characters to be wearing normal clothes which fit in with the law abiding citizens around them.

The target audience is mainly aimed to the more mature audiences, the age certificate tells you that it’s a 18 rated and will not be suitable for anyone under this age bracket. However, now women can relate to this film simply because a woman has been introduced and is being portrayed in this way. Men can also relate to this film and a lot of young males are interested in this type of genre and is therefore targeted towards these groups of people.