Inception Opening Scene Analysis

Opening Sequence

Water is first shown through panning, following the waves as they crash onto the cliff. After, an eye level close up of Cobb is shown collapsed on the sand, this could suggest to the audience through the symbolism of water that the main character is drowning perhaps in guilt, fear or that he is literally dying. The camera then shoots to children playing, matching the eye level of the character and showing to the audience that they are figments of his imagination as the contrast between his ill manner and their indifferent behaviour. In contrast to the light heartedness of them, it is also shown that he is in a dream like state through a dramatic long shot of an old oriental building, which is almost random, unlike the first perception of the children and shocks the audience to question what is happening and what is going to happen. Already from the seriousness of the first few shots it is obvious to the spectator that there will be many questions that need to be answered.