Technical Analysis- Silence of the Lambs

An over the shoulder shot is used to show that Clarice is at ease; the FBI agent is being very relaxed and calm about the whole situation and what it is about. This falsely makes it seem although it is not a very important or serious meeting even though it is being held very formally. However when the FBI agent comes onto the main topic of "Hannibal Lecter" the tone changes from a light hearted formal atmosphere into a very serious and cautioning speech. This is very much like in the first scene when Clarice is on the training course although the viewers do not have an obvious reason to think that she is. It is not until the FBI agent shows up that we actually realise she is not in danger. In between these two event however Clarice is running through a very misty and foggy forest so it almost looks like the beginning to a horror film. This is where the tension begins because she is trapped in this forest and for all we know she could be running away from something or someone so there is always the atmosphere of unease. Due to the fact you cannot see much through the mist and fog it also implicates that somebody is watching her but she cannot see them which adds to the unease and tension; also the fact she is on her own disheartens the viewer because she is a girl and we automatically feel as if she is more vulnerable to attack than a man would be therefore linking in with the tension and unease. All of these thoughts are then struck down when the FBI agent comes out to tell her somebody is looking for her, this is not disimalar to what happened in the office because she was put at ease in the beginning, very relaxed and chilled but then danger was introduced which changed the atmosphere for us and her as the character. This happens in the woods but the other way around, we are lead to believe she is in danger at the beginning but then reassured by the FBI agent she was actually in a safe place all along.

When Clarice is in the meeting the with the head of biological sciences she first looks at the pictures which are hung up on the wall. These pictures are very distressing as they appear to be of a current case with photographs of the victims. The viewer is given plenty of viewing time to see the photographs in detail and even read the titles of "Bill Skins" we can see that the victims have had some of their skin taken off from the offender therefore we can automatically see that all of the board is linked to the one case. This case is clearly not a small one and many people will know about it as it is so disturbing and unusual; all the victims are also female. This as it has previously begins to build suspense and worry because people are unsure why she has been called into meet with the head of section, she may be dealing with this killer and once again it would be putting her into a vulnerable position. The fact all of his victims are also female make the viewers wary because she is a female and therefore fits the description of the other victims and could therefore be one. All of this could be linked to the first scene as it is all about this being some sort of horror, mystery film. When the agent tells her she will be working on a case for the infamous "Hannibal Lecter" it also once again puts Clarice in a vulnerable and potentially dangerous position which once again adds to the tension and unease of the viewers.

There appears to be a male dominance around the area as shown when Clarice enters the lift and she is the only female and also surrounded but many males. With the cases of "Bill Skins" and "Hannibal Lecter" this implicates that there is a male dominance, the men are in charge and there are not very many females on scene or working in this department. This again makes it seem like she is at some form of risk and she is the female surrounded by muscular and intelligent males. Clarice does come across as a masculine and determined character as she does things independently and does not rely on other people so she is mentally strong but also physically strong because she does not mind going out on her own at risky times or looking into the case of a very dangerous serial killer. 

In a section of the opening scene there are two FBI agents having a conversation with each other and they appear to be keeping their voices down. This implicates that they are up to something or they are talking about something that is unmentionable. This can link back to the being watched when Clarice was in the forest, they could be talking about her or anything or anyone we simply do not know. We are only left to think for ourselves what they could be talking about therefore opening up a world of possibilities. The fact they are being secretive almost adds to the being watched idea because they seem to think there are eyes and ears everywhere looking and listening into what they are talking about creating the atmosphere of secrecy and mistrust. It seems as if nobody trusts each other because you cannot be too careful so everybody keeps to themselves because of this what should be a very hectic and chaotic environment comes across as a very chilled and relaxed environment. In every part of the opening different moods and atmospheres get implied however there is defiantly the unease and tension building theme through out.