Divergent Opening

 Divergent

The opening scene of Divergent covers so much information that it is extremely important for the whole film, this is as it is an introduction to the main character Tris’ society starting with what's outside it. The film is introduced with a non diegetic soundtrack with a dystopian theme with the title sequence already setting up what genre of film this will be: action. The first scene while accompanied by the soundtrack opens with a wide shot panning across a full green field with a beautiful sunny day setting a peaceful tone and then as the camera keeps panning left an abandoned ship is revealed destroying the peaceful image created in our minds once before and as the camera keeps on panning the audience are now expecting something else to be revealed and as expected a huge fence like structure appears supporting the dystopian theme that this follows. Beyond this fence a huge decomposing city appears, one that we can recognise, something that is familiar suggesting a factor of mystery on what has happened and when this is set. All of these things are answered when a society is shown living in the city and a new type of beat of non diegetic soundtrack is introduced, this one is more up beat and creates a sense of relief in the audience as they feel secure. Another new sound that is introduced at the same time as the change of soundtrack would be the unintelligible, overlapping peoples diegetic dialogue which once again create a sense of security as it it something we know and we are familiar with, it also accentuates the amount of people we think are living at this city. While most seems normal in this society we are then introduced to the outfits of the people the people that live as in the chaos of the crowds of people walking there are groups walking together and usually all wearing the colour in said groups for what reason, we are unaware but this shows that even among the chaos there is structure.  

Another key moment from this opening would be when this new setting is described to us by a voice over which clears up essentially any question you would have had. Starting with the time, it is made clear to us that this is most likely earth in the future as there is a referenced ‘the war’ which would explain the decomposing of buildings and ships. As this is a film adaption it already has a fan base and these facts such as what factions were would be explained before the actual story start and so that is what this is doing, setting the scene. The use of voice over is successful as it has the possible hint of the main character and what they believe as when she is describing the factions she has a quite judgemental or impressed tone when saying ‘they know everything’ and moments like this create a connection to the audience before the character has even been introduced, a voice over that is personal and at the beginning of a film like this sets a unique and private tone. This use of voice over also comes in handy at the end of the opening scene when the camera is having a wide shot of the city and she say ‘except for me’, while tone was a good place to learn about our main character she is now not only a narrator but is giving personal information and this as it is at the end is clear to the audience is going to be the start of her journey. 

While these all are good examples of story building, not many themes of action have been noted as this segment comes in when Tris is describing the factions and the traits of said factions. This starts with the reference of erudite ‘the smart ones’ which opens with a close up of a blue eye as an image to support the complex and scientific nature that follows them and as the next scene to present this faction is one of a pristine science lab suggesting a hierarchy in the system another part of this faction that has the connotation of power is their formal wear in science jackets or suits and appearing very put together. The next faction mentioned is amity which is shown in a green farm rocking peacefully, there is no particular connotation of status as they are a strong middle ground, but their earthy nature is supported by the neutral tone of their clothes and as this faction are connected to nature there is a shot which feature a large tree being in the centre of their screen implying that the earth in the centre of their group. The next faction mentioned is the faction of honesty which is portrayed by the simplistic nature of what they are wearing as it is just plain black and white while still being formal, the setting of the room presented is a courthouse suggesting that they hold the most power in this system, at the welcoming of this scene there

is also the diegetic sound and image of a gavel being hit as if a wakeup call to the truth which could something to occur the main character later. The next faction is shown to be peaked in the character interest is dauntless which are introduced with the diegetic sound of the groups laughter and shouting accompanied by a low angle tracking shot of them running together suggesting that their lives are fast and constant while they still hold power, our character is then seen running with them and we spot her as they are all dressed in black and hints of red suggesting their danger and mystery while she is dressed in a grey colour. The reason she is dressed in grey is as the main character is in the faction abnegation which is a place for giving which is supported by the signifier shot of a hand holding another followed by the camera panning right around the faction helping those in need, their grey colour suggest that they are not living for themselves (no self identity) but living to help others. And this system is fully completed by the faction less who are at the bottom of the system, this serene and balanced society inside the city is not what it appears as it is made clear that you can be stripped of faction and left on the street, you need to fit in to survive. I think the main audience from presenting the characters like this is women, specifically teen girls as what Tris is saying can resonate and is not too complex to understand. Like i said before it was a book before a movie so it already have a audience that have expectations but as an action film it present the build up for a revolution type storyline.