“Silence Of the lambs”

Approaches to Film Studies; (MSJ—241)

Juditha Ohlmacher

Student:Dilshad Sobnob Disha; ID: 053012002.

“Silence Of the lambs”

Director: Jonathan Demme; Release Date: 14 February 1991 (USA)

Writers :Thomas Harris (novel), Ted Tally (screenplay)

Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Analyze the first interview scene: 00:12:00 – 00:17:50minutes,

There was mane two characters in that particular scene. Interviewer Clarice Starling (FBI) and interviewee Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

· There are 63 shots in my counting first shot is a establishing shot of Dr. Hannibal Lecter , then shot/reverse shot taken next 5 shots, then few shots take differently that break of 180 rule. After 9-10shots are again shot/reverse shot conversation of Interviewer Clarice Starling (FBI) and interviewee Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Then a establishing shot again. After a shot pass there is a POV shot of both of characters. Than shot/reverse shot taken next 13 shots, PAN shot. MCU of main character Dr. Hannibal Lecter’s.POV shot of Interviewer Clarice Starling to the papers. Then again hot talk and shot taken

shot/reverse shot after that editing become little slow with slowCU of first Dr. Hannibal Lecter then Clarice Starling CU shots. Last of all this scene finish with establishing shot.

· The rhythm of the editing is quite fest then became little bet slow. Shots are not very long. Most of the shots are CU and cut every time each character finished a dialog.

· First and last shots are establishing shot; many shot are taken shot/reverse shot; with eyeline match.

· Few shot are eyeline match shots also. But there is break of 180 rule and that give a great impacted. Dr. Hannibal Lecter look start to the camera it means interpret with viewers. Because viewers want to know about him so that type of shot makes it more interesting and rise more attention of viewers.

· This kind of all shots represent this two characters are totally separate from each other. Different shot can be describe characters position.

In my analyze of that scene;

· It is not a eye catcher but a mind catcher editing by Jonathan Demme. Every shot Jonathan wants viewers involvements, attentions and hold their (viewers) mind. What the two characters saying, how they saying spicily Dr. Hannibal Lecter’s talk and his way of talking. Viewers just get in to it. Every time I go for analyze this scene I feel that I m in to that scene and Dr. Hannibal Lecter is talking with me. He looking to the camera and slowly really slow clause up make me do so, I think. For this editing not a single face expiration is missed. Viewer get scarce but in same time they want to hear more from Dr. Hannibal Lecter because it look that he talk to viewers and viewers get in to this scene.