Homework 2

Formal Assessment essay

In the opening of the City of god, the chicken is chased by a group of people. The chicken is shown by a series of close ups and it appears to show that it is scared by seeing the other chicken being killed. This could connote to show that the theme could be about fear and death.

The first scene is of a close up knife sharpening. This shows the danger that might be featured, it also connotes that as we don’t see who is sharpening the knife we may not know who will be causing the pain or trouble till later or at all. But the scene of the knife sharpening is interrupted by a close up of someone playing a guitar and a tambourine. The sound, which is diegetic  is of the music that is being played in the scene. It sounds like music from a certain culture, which then after pairing with the knife sharpening could connote to mean that a culture or a group of people could be very dangerous and harmful. These two scenes together are very effective, it makes the audience think about the danger and also arise many thoughts of what might happen and therefore grabbing the audience attention immediately at the beginning.

The scenes then start to become a little bit longer- showing a bit more of what is happening. -  This way it gives the audience a bit more of what is happening.  - It shows an extreme close up of a chicken and someone peeling a carrot. This connotes that chicken is to be killed and cooked. 

The chicken is shown in an extreme close up, and it seems to show that it is scared by seeing the other chicken being killed and it then tries to cuts itself free from the rope and then jumps of the table and runs.  A man realizes and tells other to chase the chicken. It could show that anyone, including chickens, would have a hard time trying to escape and this could connote that one of themes could be about trying to escape a violent and scary environment and that to try and escape is as equally dangerous and may end in the same in the same fate.

It then continues in the point of view of the chicken and shows it being chased by a group of people, using different angles of a panning shot. It shows that the struggle the chicken is having to go through to try and escape the clutches of the group of people and that for some reason these people actually care about keeping the chicken in their possession to the extent they’re chasing it around what seems to be slums. This connotes that this group of people does not let go easily and are extremely dangerous and violent about it as one asked an “outsider”- ( a utensils seller walking by)   to stop the chicken but the outsider had failed and one of the group and pushed him onto the floor and pulled out his gun and pauses to stare at him. At this moment he could have easily shot him but didn’t and continued to run after the chicken. This shows that that character has some aura of power about him and he may also be very violent and care-less.

Then the scene changes to two boys talking about a photography assignment for a newspaper. This shows a contrast from the earlier scenes and show that as pace of the scene and camera movement has slowed down to show these two characters, it connotes that these two may be extremely relevant in the story and it gives the audience a chance to slow down and also register in these new characters and understand their importance. 

The chicken then runs onto the road and almost gets run over by a car, shows that even if one does escape they end up in another. It then cuts to the two photography boys as well. This could show that the scenario in which the chicken is in may be the same that one of the boys may be in.

The scene then changes into the chicken being in the middle of the photography boy and the chasing group from earlier. The group tells the boy to get the chicken and the police arrive, then the group say to stay where they are and they all pull out their guns.

This shows that the chicken for whatever reason, but shows that the group sticks to what they want and don’t quit until they get it. It shows that the chicken resembles the theme and the possible storyline of the film which may be what the photography boy has to go through and this opening sequence for-shadows what may happen.