Kill Bill Analysis

Quentin Tarantino has very cleverly crafted the first scene of Kill Bill. The first thing you come to notice is the black screen that Tarantino produces. The first signifier is of the sound bridge and also diegetic sound of a woman, very heavy breathing. The film then cuts to a high angle close up shot of the bride's face. This shot reveals wounds and injuries. The shot is in black and white, or noir lighting/Chiaroscuro lighting. It may be in black and white as to pay a tribute to the 50's thriller films. Another reason is that it is a flashback, also the blood and injuries look far more realistic in noir lighting then they would in normal coloured lighting.

The film then cuts to a low angle tracking close up shot of a mans feet. The shadows of his feet are very visible and the diegetic sound adds to the effect of this man being a villain. 


From The handkerchief we
immediately know it is Bill.

It cuts back to the shot of the bride's face, this shows the power struggle between the two characters. The two different shots also establish a relationship or link between the make and female. "Do you find me sadistic?" is the first line in the film. This line implies that he has committed these injuries to her, that he has hurt her. It continues to stay on the close up of the brides face and her heavy breathing. This establishes a relationship between the bride and the audience. The man then goes to wipe her face, with a handkerchief embrodered with the name 'Bill' on it, she cringes and flinches at this action, you can tell from her expressions that she is uncomfortable with what he is doing. Immediately we know this man is Bill. From what Bill is wearing and his voice we as the audience can tell what kind of man he is. He has boots with a Cuban heel, so he cares about the way he looks and what people think of him they were probably expensive shoes so he is showcasing his wealth. He is also wearing a bracelet, maybe a family or gang symbol, that implies he is a dangerous man. Finally we see his Handkerchief with 'Bill' embrodered onto it. This tells us that he is a vain enough to have his name on his handkerchief. The name of the film is 'Kill Bill' so from this scene only we know that, 'Bill' has hurt the bride, who potentially, is going to try to 'Kill Bill'. However at the end of the clip, the bride speaks, her first line of the film "Bill, it's your baby". Just as she finishes the sentence, he shoots her in the head. This re-enforces the idea that he is a part of a gang or something similar. We also know that he carries a gun, so he is a danger to society.
The type of shot that is used makes it looks like it is from Bill's point of view, when he was talking to her, this is what he would see. It also makes it look like the bride is in a very claustrophobic place, there is no where to go, she is stuck and in danger. Also they types of character used and the strong use of shadows initiates it is going to be a very dark film.