Title Research: Virgin Suicides

     We're researching the coming-of-age film, The Virgin Suicides. We're watching the beginning off of www.artofthetitle.com

1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequence of the film?

     There were only 10 titles. It listed the directors, producers and the time of the film.

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

     The main scene was the suicide scene. There was a chaotic crowd at one house. They carried out one of the daughters that lived there and bought her to the hospital.

3. What connotations do the images carry?

     The scene shows a serious tone. The ambulance and fast actions gave this "rush" to the audience. The mood declined when it cut to the doctor talking to the victim about her condition.

4. How is genre reinforced thought symbolic and technical codes throughout the outset?

     During the whole time, the ambulance was getting the victim from her house, it cut to these 3 boys watching them. The paramedic was telling the victim everything is ok and that she's safe. Then the scene cuts to the doctors telling her that she's lucky and were asking questions.

5. How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

    After the scene at the doctor, it cuts to the house and was a title saying about 25 years ago. There's a car that pulls into the driveway and the same daughters come out of the car. The whole time, the same 3 boys were watching. This hints at the idea that the boys might've affected. the girl in a negative way.

6. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

    The very beginning of the movie was very calm. It showed city workers inspecting areas and other residents going about their day. There's an aerial shot of their neighborhood then cuts to a girl in the bathtub. Then you hear a lot of commotion from the family and paramedics trying to help. Its a way of grasping someone's attention unexpectedly.

7. How has technology been used effectively?

     The sequence was very interesting and unique. There aren't many movies that show what happened at the end then does a flashback on why it happened. It was unexpected when there was a title for the flashback too.