INTRO RESEARCH - Just like Heaven

Opening scene analysis

Just Like Heaven is a romantic comedy that was released in 2005, it is directed by Mark Waters and set in San Francisco.  

Editing

At the beginning the opening is a transition into the clouds, the clouds can symbolize heaven which is a link to the title of the film. The use of a dissolve when Elizabeth is sitting in the garden gives the effect of passing time. The use of jump cuts as she is going through her day at the hospital can show the fast pace at which her day goes, without her really noticing it. This helps the audience sympathize with her as you can understand how she feels. At the moment when the truck crashes into the car the screen goes white and then shows the bridge, this makes the audience think that its the transition to heaven.  

Mise-en-scene

The clothing of the nurse uniforms is white, this colour normally symbolizes good, pure, angelic which could symbolize the work of the nurses as they save peoples lives as a living. The use of bright lighting when the truck crashes causes an extra shock on top of what is happening so the audience really can connect with what is going on in the screen. 

Camera Angles

When the logo is shown the camera is tilted up so it slowly shows dream-works  this is a link to how the genre of rom-com films is usually slow pacing and very emotionally moving to fit with the romatic theme. The camera movement is very fast pace as they are showing her going through the day which helps the audience also feel what is going on. 

Sound

The music is very fast paced as Elizabeth is going through her day which also helps the audience feel the pace of the day along with camera movements. The music is non-diegetic so the characters cannot hear so this is just so it has an effect on the audience and makes them feel a certain way. The truck horn is loud when it is crashing into the protagonists car which makes the audience jump because they are hooked on seeing what is going to happen.