Blue Valentine Analysis

Blue Valentine Opening Sequence The genre of the film is constructed with it being set as a prologue; it shows the audience the relationship the couple had, and this portrays the genre as romance. The music begins before anything visual is shown, but the first shot is of the couple hugging, and there are effects of fireworks over them. As previously stated, the sequence is a prologue and it shows the audience shots of the couple being together. There is not as such any elements of narrative implied in the sequence except the bond of the couple is shown. One could say this has been done because when the audience watches the film they reflect back on the opening sequence, and it portrays a before and after effect.

The majority of the shots are two shots, but the individual shots are close up and also long shots; I think this has been done to show the intimacy between the couple and it reinforces the genre as romance. We see the sequence as if one of two is reminiscing on their past, which gives an insight to ‘before’ for the audience. The sequence shows different shots of the couple, together and individually, but with no narrative to it, as previously stated, I think this is to give the effect of remembering happy memories, and it suggests that it is no longer like that. Between the shots includes the effects of fireworks, which has an impact on the kind of relationship that it is, or was. The pace of the edit is fairly slow through out the whole sequence, each shot lasting about the same, possibly suggesting the remembering of that moment. The genre of the music is indie/folk, and the specific song chosen has an affect on the audiences view.

Although the sequence shows the couple being together, and it seems as if they are in a state of bliss, but when researching into the music is portrays a different view. The song: “It's a fear, it is near. the shape becomes ever clear. It bares teeth, extra sharp, that'll cut you in the heart. It attacks really quick, try and fight it with a stick. it's no use, give it up, this is life and this is love. You are my alligator” The sequence shows that although you can be happy in love, as shown in the shots, the song informs that it will not last and that it is painful, an alligator being a metaphor for the harshness of love. This clarifies to the audience possibly what is going to happen within the film, the opening sequence consisting of the happiness within a relationship, the song insinuating what is going to happen, and the film consisting of remembering what was, and the evident ending of a relationship. I think that the music within this has a great effect on the audience, and it allows people universally to reflect on personal situations within their own lives.

The first text introduced into the sequence is white and bold; this could associate with a possible purity, relating to the first stages of love. When the title is include, effects are included to give it a explosive, fiery effect, simply stating love to be like fire, and explosive and to an extent, painful. All the texts are in capitals, making it stand out to the audience, again reinforcing the harshness of the relationship.

The first shot in the sequence shows the couple hugging, but you cannot see their faces and the next is again of them, but the girl in front of the boy and an effect is included again, which similarly makes their faces harder to see. Before the text ‘blue valentine’ is shown there is a shot of the two kissing each other on the floor, and then the text is shown with the effects included. This reinforces the connotations of the intimate relationship, which is also visualized as explosive and dark. This is then followed by a series of shots of the couple together in an intimate way again reinforcing their relationship beforehand. The point that there are only shots of the couple could suggest that the pair feel as if they are in the world together, they only recognize each others presence similarly reinforcing the intimacy, playfulness and impulsiveness of their relationship previously. The ending shot is of a young girl followed by darkness, this could imply that the couple had a child and it could also suggest that the relationship has resulted in the ending of the happiness to some extent.