Kill Bill Volume 1 Essay Sam Lewsey

Throughout this sequence in volume 1 of Kill Bill we are exposed to a wide variety of camera movements, ranging from forward, backwards and panoramic tracking to horizontal panning.

The sequence starts with panoramic tracking, which gives a sense of wideness to the clip. Instead of following one subject it tracks across the back of the stage where we as the audience can see the band and the crowd, this makes the audience feel included. It then tracks to the underneath of the stairs where we see the main character and the camera movement changes to horizontal tracking.

In the horizontal tracking clip it tightens and focuses only on the main character, this points the whole of the audience’s attention towards her. The use of horizontal travelling follows the character at an eye level from the side, almost as if we are there witnessing this with our own eyes, once again making the audience feel included. It then travels behind the screen so we can’t completely see her anymore, adding the enigma code of mystery where the audience are made to question where she’s gone.

We then see a crane camera movement from a bird’s eye view, from here the main character is made to look small and vulnerable as we follow her around, making the audience feel powerful and all seeing.

Later we see tracking backwards from a pair of people whilst we wonder what’s happening and why we’re following these two people, then audience is forced to focus on these two people. As they begin to argue and the man seems to become nervous, we are once again presented with enigma codes, why are they arguing and why does the man seem nervous? This means that the audience’s attention is momentarily taken away from the main character leaving the audience curious.

The camera movement turns into horizontal panning and tracking as we split of from the previous subjects and move onto a new one, the woman dressed in black. Her clothing is part of the mise en scene and may have been used to represent the darkness that is about to overcome this lively room of people enjoying themselves. She is the only person so far that is dressed in black, which contrasts with all the bright colours everybody else is wearing.

Tracking back the camera then turns into a panoramic follow up, following the woman in black past the front of the crowd, reminding us of all the crowd having fun. Revisiting the panoramic shot the audience feeling included is re-enforced.

Finally, forward tracking is used to follow the woman down a narrow hallway back to where we left the character. The camera movement and sound builds suspense and keeps the audience engrossed in the scene.

The entire clip consists of just camera movement and no cutting or fading etc, this includes the audience as if we have been following everyone in the scene ourselves. This makes the experience as a whole seem more real and brings it to life.