The Wave Opening Scene Flashcards
(11 cards)
Mise-en-scène: Place and Palette
Place and Palette – Old, beaten-up car. Suburbs. Urban areas contrasted with picturesque areas of green.
Mise-en-scène: People and Portrayal
People and Portrayal –Wenger stands out both because of costume and behaviour. At the beginning of the film Wenger is represented as a non-conformist, wearing leather jacket and black Ramones t-shirt – creating a punk rock aesthetic. Ramones left-wing but also had violent lyrics including ‘Blitzkreig Bop’ linking them with Nazis - potential for violence hinted at early on. Close cropped hair – connotations of right-wing youth and ‘skinheads’, often associated with neo-Nazism. Also has tattoos associated with non-conformists. Connotations of creativity and individuality.
Mise-en-scène: Props and Proxemics
Props and Proxemics – students create a path for him as he walks against the flow. Respect for his authority but also friendliness. Permissive teacher. Wenger has a backpack rather than a rucksack – childlike. Connotes possible immaturity and contrasts with other teachers who carry briefcases and papers.
Mise-en-scène: Performance
Performance – Close-ups of Wenger singing and aggressively slapping the steering wheel when he is driving to work convey him as being rebellious and outspoken, used to going against the norm. Walks briskly into school. Possibly late. Purposeful. Striding confidently. Strong personality.
Mise-en-scène: Place and Palette Inside
Place and Palette. Filmed in a real school to add verisimilitude The school setting is mundane – ordinary. Dull greys and greens. Areas of shadow. Bare and bleak. Corridors reminiscent of ATB in places.
Mise-en-scène: People and Portrayal - Inside
People and Portrayal – archetypical teachers – Wenger stands out both because of his costume and his behaviour. Costume at odds with clothing worn by other staff
The props and proxemics, such as the rucksack, resemble those of a child. Connotes immaturity, lack of preparation, impulsiveness, and carelessness?
Standing before the headteacher’s desk evokes the image of a mischievous child. The older teacher, Weiland, who is taller than Wenger, reprimands him as if he were a child. Wenger’s unspoken anger and frustration are evident in his posture, body language and tone of voice.
Mise-en-scène: Performance
Performance – Arrives in staff room and throws down his bag – immaturity. Arriving later than other staff who are all working. Lazy? Not taking job seriously? Jokes with the smokers – the rule-breakers. Non-conformity. Fast paced movement reflects his impulsive nature. IN his meeting with the Head, he is unable to get his way. Unable to impose his will. Also, unsuccessful during conversation with older, more experienced teacher – v. much teacher archetype in terms of clothing and performance. Intimidated by use of Latin. Wenger displays insecurity during meeting with Head and again here.
Diegetic Sound: Music
The Ramones, were pioneers of punk rock who emerged during a period of significant social upheaval.
What does the music do? What effect does it have?
The Ramones’ lyrics often dealt with themes of alienation, conformity, and social rebellion – elements that strongly resonate with “The Wave’s” exploration of group dynamics and mass psychology. Songs like “Blitzkrieg Bop”* and “I Wanna Be Sedated” express feelings of youth frustration and desire for belonging. This musical choice is deliberately ironic when viewed against his later transformation. The raw, anti-establishment sound of punk rock is a binary opposition to the dictatorial control he later imposes. It serves as a baseline for measuring how far Wenger strays from his original ideals.
Cinematography used to represent Wenger as a non-conformist.
Close ups of Wenger singing and aggressively slapping the steering wheel when he is driving to work convey him as being rebellious and outspoken
Fast paced tracking shots show him walking to school, he is walking against the flow of students (showing he is used to going against the norm) who give him bemused looks
Camera follows behind taking the journey in with him – aligns us with him. Identification created.
Low-angle shots connote power and control. Some worm’s eye view shots that emphasise his power and dominance.
Fast-paced editing, shot-reverse-shot during conversations. We see reaction shots and Wenger’s dissatisfaction
Narrative links
Links to Sequence 1 - TUESDAY, the pivotal classroom transformation scene. The shift from chaos to order mirrors the way punk rock itself can paradoxically create unity through rebellion. When students begin adopting the uniform white shirts, their collective movement reflects the synchronised energy of a punk rock concert crowd but with a darker undertone.
The scene’s building tension parallels the way The Ramones’ songs typically build in intensity, but here it highlights the dangerous appeal of conformity rather than individual expression. This musical-visual parallel becomes particularly poignant as Wenger, like a punk rock frontman gone wrong, commands his students’ complete attention and loyalty, transforming from a symbol of rebellion into one of authoritarian control.
