Media se7en

How does the director create an enigma through mise en scene and location in the opening scene of se7en?

The director of Se7en created an enigma through the whole of the opening scene by using a variety of mise en scene which all tell a different story.

Firstly, an enigma could be created through the use of the metronome at the end of the opening scene. The camera closing up with each tick of the metronome could connote the Somerset being trapped within the city/town that he lives and how he has been stuck in the same job for a lot of his. This could also be represented through the ticking graduating louder as the camera getting closer.The metronome could also be symbolism for his time is running out which could foreshadow something later on in the film like his time in life is running out but it could also represent how his time is running out in his job and maybe in the city/town. This creates an enigma because his time could run out but the audience doesn't know why. It also creates an enigma as the camerawork creates suspense within the audience as they don't know what will happen next. The metronome constantly ticking in the background could develop the character because it could connote that Somerset is impatient and doesn't like to waste time. It could also connote that Somerset's working day is like clockwork so it is always the same procedure.

Another piece of mise en scene that creates an enigma in the opening scene is the paper rose.

This is because the audience don't know who it is from or if he drew it himself which leaves the audience confused if he had a different past life to what the life he leads now. The paper rose could connote that Somerset is mysterious and secretive which fits with the persona that the actor is trying to convey which is a detective. The director could have done this for the reason as it reflects the characters life as a detective having to constantly keep secrets to outside victims of crime and maybe to the people that are associated with him like family members.

The paper rose could also connote that he might have been married or in love before but something tragic could have happened to the person so Somerset could keep it as a memory.

A piece of speech that creates an enigma is when Somerset says ' did the kids see?'. This could connote that Somerset once had kids or that he had been in a similar situation before he became a detective which leads to the audience being confused and curious about his past life as in the opening scene nothing is said about the past it only focuses on the present. This could connote that he once was happy and had a family but now he is lonely. This sentence displays that Somerset cares about context to a crime too much and that everyone just focuses on the crime but not what could have caused it or who could have seen it.

The dark lighting in all of the scenes presents a certain darkness and misery as well as a bleak location. This could reflect that Somerset isn't happy in this location but it could also reflect him wanting to escape from the location. But alternatively the dark lighting could also represent the type of crime that they are dealing with. The dark lighting could also connote the characters having to be secretive which relates to their jobs as detectives. Also the colours that everything is are bland and dark which reflects the bleakness of the location and possibly the bleakness of the characters. It could also connote that Somerset is upset that he is being replaced and that they already someone. It could also connote that Somerset prefers to work alone and that he is upset that he has to work with somebody but it could display that he is utterly fed up with the job and just wants to leave the town and his job. The bars on all the windows make the town seem like a prison which could connote that anyone who moves or works there never escapes and is stuck there for the rest of their lives. This contrasts what Somerset wants to do because he wants to leave but he may be loosing hope which could be reflected through the pathetic fallacy being miserable and grey. So this could lead to Somerset having tried for years to escape the town but has never been successful and that he could perhaps be losing faith that he will ever leave the town and be stuck there like everyone else there. This creates an enigma because the audience are clueless as to what the town is like because there is no context and you don't see much of the background in the opening scene the camera mainly focuses on the characters and the sense of isolation in Somerset.

In se7en enigmas are presented frequently within the opening scene through mise en scene and locations as well as the weather and characters. The Main character is established through the enigmas and also the mise en scene which gives the audience a clue as to what the character is like.