RESEARCH: ANALYSIS OF THE OPENING OF NOWHERE BOY

Nowhere Boy

Institutional information clearly shows that the movie is sponsored by the UK Film Council, which is sponsored by Film four, Icon and partly funded by the National Lottery. In association with Northwest Vision and Media, Lip Sync Productions, Hanway films, and Ecosse films. Directed by Sam Taylor-Wood. The most prominent letters show the title of the film, Nowhere Boy.

In the opening of Nowhere Boy, we are greeted with an establishing shot. There is a sight of a young boy running across the opening of an old, elegant looking building. Immediately we perceive the contrast between the two - and how the young boy isn't fazed by the building at all. There is a bird's eye shot when we see the opening of the building that the boy is running along. 

We then realise that the boy is dreaming. It is a birds eye shot of the boy curled up in bed.  He wakes up to a woman (called Aunt Mimi) who seems quite strict on him. We learn that his name is John. From this, we can tell that the dynamic between these two isn't very close. We then see the boy move downstairs and sit down to have breakfast. A man comes into shot - and tells him about sneaking out and gives him a harmonica. This shows a lot closer relationship than with his aunt. We then realise that the man is his Uncle, called George. 

The audience learns that John doesn't have a very close relationship between his Aunt Mimi. We wonder why the boy is with his aunt and uncle rather than his parents. In the opening sequence, we learn that Aunt Mimi is a strict character and that she doesn't really match the boy's character - whereas his Uncle George is more of a childish figure. We can support this from when we see the two at breakfast, where George gives John a harmonica and makes childish noises. 

The audio in the film is based around 50's Rock 'n' Roll. This matches the tempo of the film and the character of John - upbeat and fast. The music plays a roll in the scene where John and his friend are riding their bicycles down a hill, to school. They are riding, and the lyrics in the song say: "I'm a real wild child". This is a good editing point, as it further conveys the character of John.