Road to Perdition Opening

Road to Perdition

Director: Sam Mendes

Year: 2002

Genre: Crime drama

Budget: $80,000,000

Worldwide gross: $181,000,000

Distributor: Dreamworks

The opening of Road to Perdition is a flashback to the end of the film before the opening of the film begins. The opening consists of the titles first, they are san-sarrif and small in comparison to the screen. The only sound present during the titles is waves this creates narrative enigma and completely misleads us location wise. The first shot is of our protagonist from behind it is a push in shot almost as if we are getting an insight into his memory as the flash back ends and the start of the film begins. A voice over is used to give background information and also further creates suspense and narrative enigma. Dramatic and calming music is then introduced which gives a very peaceful and respectful attitude. This opening is very controversial in comparison to previous openings I have looked at as there is no sudden violence or shock. Our protagonist is introduced to us in a white environment, snow, and he is also small in frame, showing him as innocent and pure in contrast to the dirty, raining night time shots we see to portray the more gang involved adults. The opening sequence makes no relation to the gang life to follow which creates narrative enigma throughout and further deviates from the typical crime film opening. Shot cuts in editing are very rare which creates a vey calm atmosphere and civil city atmousphere, in addition there are several establishing shots to show the location in which the gang is stationed, depicting them as in control and that people are very aware of their operation within the location. The opening shows another key value I found in crime, gang films which is family. The first close-up of the protagonist is in shadow which contrasts to the previous flashback of the same character showing there is more of a dark side to him. He also steals something in the same shot which further hints at the crime background of the character. We do not see Sully in the whole of the opening scene which is very unusual as he is also considered a main protagonist. The final shot is a pullback on the same character which further moves on the story ending the opening.