Research: Looking at 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' opening

CREATION OF ENIGMA:

At first we see a mini-montage of tracking movements of the city streets at night-time, accompanied by moderately upbeat music, connoting normality and establishing an equilibrium. The sound of the typewriter leaves the audience wondering who is typing and why. A voice-over opens the story, creating enigma as we do not know who is speaking. It is implied that it is the protagonist, using first person narrative, which allows a connection to the character as it seems as if he is letting the audience in. The dialogue in the voice-over such as "...she said you listen" and "please don't try to figure out who i am" gives the impression that he does not want to be known just yet, and appears reserved and insecure. It also creates enigma as we do not know who the "she" he refers to is.

INTRODUCTION TO CHARACTERS:
Before we see the protagonist (Charlie), we are shown a medium shot of his reflection in his bedroom window as he writes in his diary, accompanied by the voice-over, which established a connection between the audience and this character as we know what is in his head. By showing the reflection suggests that he does not want people to know the real him, and just a representation of himself or a front that he puts on, reflecting how insecure he feels and represents him as an outcast. In addition, the way he talks in the voice-over gives the impression that he is shy and reserved, and a bit awkward.

SETTING UP PLOT:
Again, the voice-over is the anchorage to the plot, and allows the audience to understand where the story begins. For example, the voice-over states "... tomorrow is my first day of high school, and I really need to turn things around" which establishes that he is a 'freshman' and that he wants a fresh start, suggesting there is something in his past that he wants to forget. We, as an audience, then know that the story will lead on to his attempts at 'turning things around' in his new school.

PACE AND RHYTHM:
The non-diegetic music fits the tracking movement of the city streets at night-time, like the audience is in the vehicle, reflecting the start of a journey. In the voiceover the protagonist talks slowly, which suggests that he is shy and reserved.

MOOD AND TONE:
The relatively tuneful non-diegetic music connotes a sense of normality, and sounds light but a little out-dated. The tone of the voice-over contrasts to this as the protagonist sounds monotone and not particularly happy with his current situation. However in what he says "I need to turn things around" implies a sense of optimism and creates the hope that his situation will improve throughout the film.