Analysis of '' Matilda'' opening scene by Hannah Fenn.

For our homework we were asked to analyse a children's film opening and it must contain information about narrative, characters, genre, and atmosphere. I chose to analyse Matilda because i feel it has a large variety of characters, has a good story line, and sticks to conventions.

Narrative: The opening scene of Matilda sticks to the conventions of a children's film opening and the narrator introduces the characters and the plot of the story within the first scene. Matilda has special powers and is extremely clever, this is typical for the main character of the story. The film being called Matilda gives more importance to her.

Character: In the opening scene of Matilda, conventions of a children's film are used by introducing all the characters. The parents of Matilda are presented straight away as unsuitable parents; they show a lack of love and caring personalities. We know this because they don’t seat belt up the baby in the car on the way home from the hospital and when they get home they leave her in the car. The narrator describes the Wormwood's as '' not very nice people''.
From the very first shot Matilda is followed by the camera, and this gives an instant realisation that Matilda is the main character. Following the conventions the main character has something different about them over the other characters, Matilda is also a good person in the family, which presumably makes her the ''hero'' of the story. Matilda being described as an '' extraordinary child '' and the parents being to unloving to care helps determine the plot of the story.

Genre: Matilda is a hybrid, which contains fantasy, adventure and comedy genres.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere in the opening scene is very happy and upbeat. The colours used are bright and colourful and the music is upbeat and joyful, this draws the attention to the aimed audience which is children. When the situation gets better for Matilda the music becomes happier, this informs she is the main character and important.