'The Notebook' Opening Scene

The colour scheme throughout this opening is mainly oranges and blacks, reflecting the sunset which foreshadows the future events of the "sunset" of the characters' lives. It could also be a reference to the closing of Ally's brain, due to her illness. Orange also symbolises warmth, suggesting the warmth of someone's heart; connotating love and kindness.

The titles of the film are in a white font, representing innocence; purity; and something very obvious: seeing things in 'black and white'.

The boat on the river reflects the peace that these two characters so long for during the film. It also foreshadows and relates to the event further on in the film when Ally and Noah go on the boat together and re-find their mutual love for one another. However, it also has a haunting effect to it, which could be in reference to the haunting of Ally's parents upon her and Noah's 'young love'.

As the audience are unable to see who is on the boat, this adds to the haunting effect. It also creates a sense of mystery due to the audience not knowing who this character is, although by Ally standing by the window watching, there is the suggestion that he is a main character. It could also mirror the loss of identity that Ally suffers from by her illness.

A connotation of future events is presented when the birds are filmed flying across, linking to when Ally asks Noah if he thinks she was a bird in a past life: a small but significant moment in the film. Birds are also linked with freedom and innocence, mirroring the freedom and innocence both Ally and Noah felt during their summer together.

There are no close up shots during this opening scene, whereas a number of high shots are featured. This gives the representation of the audience being a bird, which is a running theme throughout the film. It also symbolises the vulnerability of people, both in the sense of love and falling victim to illness.