The following clip is the opening of 'Suicide Club', commonly known as 'Suicide Circle' in Japan. This 2001 Japanese horror film directed by Sion Sono explores the theme of suicide which a direct problem in today's society. The opening of 'Suicide Circle' is arguably one of the most shocking and effective openings in Japanese film due to it's diegetic and non-diegetic sounds and mise-en-scene.
Sound
The sound used in this scene is one of the main elements that make this film opening so notorious and effective. The diegetic sound in this scene is as we would expect it to be; chattering school children, the platform intercom, the train speeding along the tracks and the honking of the train. The non-diegetic sound however is very contrapuntal and affects the whole atmosphere and nature of the scene. When the school children begin to step over the yellow line on the platform [0:11] we begin to hear the striking sound of an accordion, various wind instruments and a drum. These instruments are usually associated with joyous and celebratory events, not a class of teenage students about to commit mass suicide. It gives the scene a merry, bright atmosphere like the students are ready to go on a journey. As the students jump off the platform onto the track, the music becomes softer yet still audible. It strongly contrasts with the images of splattered blood over the platform and the train and the screaming of witnesses. Throughout this whole scene the soft playing of the accordion and wind instruments plays softly and steadily. This brings confusion and distortion about the audience and creates a very effective contrast that interests the audience.
Camera Framing
Throughout the opening scene there are many medium shots that picture the students from the waist up standing in a straight line. In using this shot, it takes away each students individuality and they all become one. The medium shots also show the audience the amount of students who are about to commit this terrible act of mass suicide. There are also various long shots showing the students full body as they step over the yellow line and count as they prepare to jump in front of the oncoming train. Not only does this allow the audience to establish the setting and situation, it also emphasis's the amount of students who are committing suicide together. Toward the end of the scene we witness close up's of the students feet, arms, their blank faces and the train tracks. However, the most notable close up is the terrified and disgusted women's face covered in blood. [1:29]. This close up shows very little background and focuses solely on the women's face. This shot is particularly effective as it makes the audience feel uncomfortable at the sight of splattered blood and heightens the tragic event that has taken place.
Camera Angles & Movement
The camera angeles in this opening are mainly kept at eye level to immerse the audience into the action and force the audience to become one of the students. Whilst the students walk up the yellow line the high angle of the camera shows the unity all the students have as they all walk in line together without fail. It also brings the audience out of the action to establish the setting. In seeing this, the audience may begin to suspect a disastrous event soon coming. Camera movement in this scene is especially effective in immersing us into the action. Firstly, the camera pans horizontally to see all of the students blank faces. In doing this it removes the student individuality and emphasises the large number of them their are. The dolly shot along the track also contributes to this. When the students jump and the train crushes them, the camera switches to a hand held camera that is very shaky and jittery. This places us in the POV of a spectator and invites us to respond to the situation.
Mise-en-scene
The mise-en-scene in this opening is very minimal yet powerful. Firstly, the students are carrying ordinary items such as backpacks and bags. The bright platform lights and billboards behind the train portray to the audience that this is a common platform in Japan. However, at the end of the scene [1:37] a tattered white bag is placed in the pool of red blood. In the Western world the combination of red and white can be a symbol of innocence and purity being tainted by evil and suffering which is what this opening scene shows. However, in Japan the combination of red and white is a symbol of auspicious commemorative events or happy occasions. This implies that the mass suicide is seen a commemorative event which has the connotations of joyous, successful occasions not mass suicide.
Lighting
Due to this opening scene being set at night, all the light in this scene is artificial from the platform lights to the lights on the train. The artificial light is high-key and hard which illuminates the whole platform and brings out texture and detail in the students faces in the first moments of this scene. However, when the students are lined up over the yellow line ready to jump [0:44] they are in front of the high-key lighting resulting in lots of shadows on the students whole body. This contributes to the idea that the students have lost their individuality and brings an ominous feeling about the scene. A moment that is specially effective is at [4:03/04] when the light on the train flickers before going out. In doing this the red blood is briefly shown being splattered across the train window which is another way to show the horrific events that have taken place.
Editing
This scene contains a lot of cross cutting editing between the students standing on the platform and the oncoming train. This gives the audience a strong sense of foreboding and the builds the anticipation. The lack of continuity editing is especially effective in this scene. The editing does not give the audience any type of story as well as defying the conventions of film openings. This quick, dramatic opening confuses the audience as well as eluding our expectations.
Conventions Of Japanese Horror
Japanese horror is a very interesting genre as it defies the usual standards of other genres of horror, especially western influenced ones. Japanese horror tends to focus on a mixture of psychological horror with elements of possession. It also tends to be solely focused on Japanese literature and legends in history by depicting certain characters from Japanese mythology. A very renowned and successful Japanese horror film 'The Grudge' gained international fame for it's inspiration and the legends based upon it. The genre is also famous for the graphic exploitation of the characters and often shows horrific violence and sexual depravity. The main plot of Japanese horror revolves around tales of vengeance and morality which is a similarity across all the sub-genres of horror. One of the main conventions within Japanese horror is suicide, a very common problem in Japan, which is very evident within 'Suicide Club'.
Conventions Of A Film Opening
The conventions of a film opening include introducing either the main protagonist or sidekick, give insights into the plot and stablish the setting. The main aim of a film opening is to engage the audience and excite them to continue watching the rest of the film. In some ways, 'Suicide Club' meets and challenges these conventions. By meeting these conventions this film opening includes a key event that is discussed during the first half of the film. It also meets the expectations of what the audience are expecting to see: suicide. However, it also defies these conventions. In the opening scene we are not introduced to any main protagonists. It also establishing a set that is never used again throughout the duration of the film.
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