Opening Title Sequence Analysis - Delicatessen

 

The narrative given to us in Delicatessen (1991) is that there is a butcher in a isolated post-apocalyptic who likes to kill humans. This is a horror movie so the target audience is meant for older teens/young adults. We know this because it is very clear to the audience that the butcher likes to kill based on the diegetic sounds of him sharpening his knife and the ending of the scene where he kills the man he captured.

 In the beginning of the scene, we get a tracking camera which focuses on the man. This tells us that he is
an important figure in this movie as the camera was slowly creeping up on his figure. The sound in this sequence is very prominent. The diegetic sound of the man sharpening his knife suggests that he is good with knives. It echoes, meaning it can be heard throughout his building which proposes the idea that he is fond of the sound if he likes sharpening his knives so loudly. The editing technique prominently used in this sequence is dissolve. The director decided to use this to set the mysterious scene in the very beginning of the sequence and to also transition into the shop. By doing this, we find out that the butcher lives in an isolated area which is great for him because it allows him to be discreet about his evil acts.