Editing analysis task

The French Connection 

Subway/car chase scene 

The expository seconds of this extract from the fast paced 70s police/crime thriller uses plenty of fast-paced straight cuts every 2-3 seconds of the scene to establish the rivetingly rapid progression of the narrative. This is parallel to the manic action displayed on screen which is exhibited via the employment of a large array of shot types and angles in order to set a scene; which makes use of many key film conventions to suggest to the audience that an expeditious typical chase scene is featured.  Sound is used in the diegesis at the start of the film to create this unified blare of car horns to accompany the enhanced sound effects (SFX) of the tires of the character's car screeching and turning. The shots shift rapidly and include a bird's-eye view angle of the car which displays the car's phenomenally quick speed at such an angle it'd create a resemblance between a car to a mouse which would move very quickly in a state of vulnerability and fear. A track/dolly is also used frequently to show to car as it manoeuvres through the streets as well as an over-the-shoulder shot to show the driver's struggle as he drives. 

An evident disequilibrium is established by the use of frequently rapid straight cuts because it associates the fast-pace of the mise-en-scene of the car in the metropolitan setting with crime and action. Enigma codes are repeatedly used as the editing accommodates cross-cuts periodically from the car's journey through the city and the train's journey as the subject is being chased by the policeman, leading the audience to question the upcoming events and resolutions in the narrative. The cross-cuts serve as a means of juxtaposition, an editing decision which creates a multi-strand narrative of two characters or events to establish simultaneity and hence an association among them that the events occurring in one of the settings/characters will have an effect on the associated narrative. The audience is impressionable on predicting the upcoming events with the use of action codes which include the more apparent ones such as: opening the train door to walk through, revealing a gun to shoot at the policeman and turning the steering wheel of the car. The pace of the cuts begins to decrease as the car is near to the train and the characters in the vehicles are near; in order to create inquisition in the audience via the use of enigma codes suggested by the man's knocking on the cabin door. Throughout this phase of the scene, the cinematography is altered and features many close-ups of the man with whom the audience can now develop personal relationships with and develop a sense of empathy. 

Following on, the actors dressed in costumes which regard them as authoritative figures begin to approach the cabin, this is filmed in a single-take and creates suspense as to what the repercussions of the criminal's actions may resort to. Cross-cuts are used to a higher meaning henceforth as the car is displayed to be directly below the over-ground train-track travelling at a similar speed; this is shown with a track/dolly moving at a large frame of a long shot. The cuts then arrive to a repeated shift between a medium shot of the car driver's facial expressions and struggle to adjust the steering wheel continuously; and a track/dolly shot facing towards the oncoming danger of the traffic from an eye-line view from the front of the car. Throughout the scene so far there is very little dialogue from the setting of the train and no dialogue at all from the car driver. When the car driver approaches threateningly towards a mother with a pram and a baby, the straight cuts alternate swiftly between the horrific reaction of the driver and the fear on the mother's face with a use of close-ups - this occurs very quickly and audiences experience a short-term outrage as personal relationships create empathy for the mother due to social norms of it being indubitably taboo to be responsible for the death of a mother and their child(ren). This creates a flash-blub enigma code which causes audiences to question the potential victims' survival. 

The scene proceeds with dialogue and interaction among the criminal with the gun and the authoritative figures after which the audience questions whether he will shoot or not as well as the outcome of the train and its' destination. The pace of editing is slow during this period because the confrontation among the two parties is questionable in regards to whether the criminal will be prosecuted yet. Soon after however, the train is travelling at a fast speed and the straight cuts shift quickly in chronology as the criminal frantically attempts to stop the train. The scene concludes with the enigma code of the car driver's exit near the setting of the juxtaposing narrative of the train crash, leading the audience to find out whether the two characters will meet and the resolution of this highly thrilling disequilibrium. 

(832 words)