Analysis of Opening Sequence of Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan

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Analysis of Opening Sequence of Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan

'Saving Private Ryan', directed by internationally acclaimed director

Steven Spielberg, was the winner of five academy awards in 1998 which

included best director, cinematography and film editing. The opening

sequence begins with World War 1's historic D-Day invasion of

Omahabeach in June 6th 1944. In this essay I will analyse how

Spielberg uses various techniques to evoke sympathy and shock the

viewer, captures the reality of combat without ever glorifying war

itself.

Spielberg used variety of camera shots including close up, medium

shot, long shot, wide-angle shot and high angle shot. He used the hand

held camera which gives a great effect when the soldiers are

frantically clambering up Omaha beach. He makes the viewer experience

the struggling of the solders by using variety of camera shots. His

use of a basic inexpensive tool such as a video cam helps him to

achieve an almost documentary accuracy. All this helped to increase

the sense of realism and make the environment of Omaha beach seem even

more petrifying, especially when the camera shudders and shakes when

shells explode.

Spielberg uses close up shots at certain points which are a shot that

focuses clearly on something in detail. The most close up shots are

taken when there is a poignant scene because he needs to show detail

clearly so the viewer can understand the emotions of the struggling

GIs. He uses a close up shot when, he zooms in into a man's eye and

the music changes. Another time is when a soldier is depicted holding

a sniper gun and the camera zooms in to view the target.

Another camera ...

... middle of paper ...

...et and he appears relieved and takes off

his helmet, but soon he gets shot anyway in 2 seconds. I don't think

Spielberg's meant for us to laugh at this unlucky soldier however. At

one stage the camera again zooms into a Soldiers face and from this

Spielberg is telling us that's the war has nearly finished. The waves

splash the bodies and you can also see fish scattered around the dead

which tells us that the nature is also affected by the war.

In "Saving Private Ryan" Spielberg captures the poignancy of war where

young lives are lost and this film preserves for future generation the

story of what happened specifically on Omaha Beach, June 6 1944.

Spielberg shows the sacrifice that soldiers made in the name of

freedom. Sixty years on from the D-Day invasion his film won't allow

us to ever forget the Normandy invasion.

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