Wallander Analysis

Cinematography:
The series Wallander uses a varying list of shot types for each opening of a new episode. The opening contained an establishing shot of two girls walking away from a car which is very effective as it doesn't give the audience too much information about the plot but it does inform them of the setting for the start of the episode. then, to reveal more to the audience the next shot is a two shot of two characters walking whom we assume to be the girls we saw in the previous shot again with this shot not revealing to much but making the audience ponder about their predicament. As the opening progresses more information is revealed through a series of close ups from inside the car which give the audience an idea as to what has happened but no idea as to the reasons. The close ups are very effective as they can reveal a lot to the audience but also make them ask questions about the stabbing. The audience may believe that there was a death at the start but then, as the extreme close ups are viewed, we realise that the victim is still alive as his eye twitches and we see his finger move. It is also later confirmed that the driver/victim is not dead through dialogue.

Mise-en-Scene:

This episode is set in a desolate and remote location where there is not a lot of people to witness the stabbing of the victim in the car. There are a few props used in the opening such as the car where the victim was stabbed, his car keys inform the audience he has a son as there is a picture of them together and it also shows the audience what he looks like as we only see close ups of him, a knife is used to show that there was a violent crime committed and we also see the taxi drivers license plate which shows the audience more about him. The two girls in the opening are dressed very casually which suggests to the audience that they were not expecting to stab someone making the audience wonder how and why they stabbed the taxi driver. The colour all throughout the opening is very low key and dull which adds to the atmospehere as it creates a depressing and sad feel to the episode which is very effective.

Sound:

At the very start of the episode there is a very loud and ominous tone which sets up the mood of the episode as it is a detective programme. As the sound builds up, more diegetic noises are heard such as wind , bird song, the footsteps of the characters walking away and panting from one of the female characters. Also the radio is on in the car which suggests to the audience that it was an unprovoked attack. As the titles roll across the screen an emotional, sad song is played which accompanies the titles well as it aids the setting of the atmosphere for the next part of the episode.

Editing:

The episode starts on a plauin black screen which the fades into the establishing shot which is very effective as the audience are unsure of what to expect. The main trasnsition used in the episode is straight cuts, this is an effective idea as if you addd in transistions they can make your film look like a trailer. The titles use visual effects which is very captivating as they are not plain and also a sound bridge is used to ensure that the opening runs smoothly and to add the atmosphere created by the music.