Opening Sequences and Setting - 'Divergent'

In this blog post, I am going to be analysing how the setting is introduced to the audience in the opening sequence of 'Divergent'.

The opening scene begins with a loosely framed shot of an open field to suggest how isolated the area is as nothing is around it. The director pans across the setting, past an abandoned ship, to inform the audience that there is a city left in the middle of nowhere; this creates a sense of confusion and entrapment for the audience as they feel stranded. 

A pedestal shot is used to highlight the height of the wall which not only emphasises its role to protects the citizens of this city but also implies that people are forced to stay inside these walls as there is nowhere else to go. Swooping aerial shots are used to warn the audience that this city has been destroyed as there are broken skyscrapers only just standing with debris all over. 

The use of melancholic non diegetic music emphasise how there is no hope left and therefore allows the audience to connect to the citizens who live here. When we are first introduced to the citizens of this city the music becomes slightly happier to suggest a sense of unity and togetherness as they are all working together to rebuild the city. As we are introduced to the places where each faction works it allows the audience to feel connected to this community and feel hopeful for their future. However, the scene ends with an aerial shot of the city again to reinforce how isolated they are and how no matter what they will always be living alone.