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​FILM OPENING OBSERVATION

In preparation for my coursework, I did some research on what should happen in the first 2 minutes of a film and picked Lady Bird (2017), Dune (2021) and Poor Things (2023). All openings included introductions of production companies and also starring actors to gain viewers' attention. Besides, when entering the actual movie, it is quite common to show a series of landscapes to unveil the settings.

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LADY BIRD (2017)

​In the first 2 minutes of "Lady Bird" (2017), directed by Greta Gerwig, the protagonist, Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, and her mother, Marion, are driving back to their home in Sacramento after a college tour. The atmosphere in the car is tense, and Lady Bird and her mother engage in a conversation that hints at their strained relationship. Lady Bird expresses her desire to live in a city with culture, like New York, while her mother criticizes her for not appreciating what she has in Sacramento. The scene sets the tone for the film, highlighting the complex dynamics between Lady Bird and her mother and foreshadowing the coming-of-age journey that Lady Bird will embark on throughout the movie.

POOR THINGS (2023)

The first two minutes of "Poor Things" (2023), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, starts slighlty different from over films as it shows a trigger warning of 'tobacco depiction'. Then, the credits roll against a dark setting, introducing Searchlight Picture, TSG Entertainment, Film4 as the production companies. Along with the credits are pieces of fabric which shows the typically fantasy settings and a character's background of the film. Then, the film reveals the scene of a woman, who's likely the protagonist, commits suicide as she jumps off from a bridge. In the end of the first 2 minutes, the title appeares as the water splashes, then title moves on to a bland and white scene of another woman staring blankly at the piano.

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DUNE (2021)

In the beginning of "Dune" (2021), directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film introduces the audience to the desert planet of Arrakis, a crucial location in the story due to its production of the valuable spice called melange. The protagonist, Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, is also introduced along with his family, including his father Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) and mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson).
The film sets the stage for political intrigue, power struggles, and the conflict over control of Arrakis. It explores themes of destiny, survival, and the mystical elements surrounding Paul's character. The first minutes may include exposition to establish the world, characters, and the central conflict that will unfold throughout the rest of the movie

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