Anisha Payne- The Silence of the Lamb

The Silence of the Lamb ( 1991)
Director: Johnathan Demme

The Silence of the Lamb is a mystery thriller about an FBI Agent Clarice Stalling played Jodie Foster trying to solve a crime with the help of “Hannibal the Cannibal” played by Anthony Hopkins. The crime involves a man that has murdered five females. In Clarice’s attempt to get inside of Hannibal’s mind she eventually gets what she wants, “ an advancement” in the case, stated by Hannibal. Clarice thought she had control but in the end the thought of someone dying affects Clarice.
The scene where Clarice goes to the Hospital for the first time brings you into the mind of Hannibal. Johnathan Demme wants his audience to experience what it means to be in a mental hospital. It starts with the long, tracking shots of Jodie Foster walking into his station. Then it captivates the audience by having doors, the doors symbolizes another entrance one must go through in order to reach Hannibal. When Clarice arrives in the station that enables her an entrance to his cell, Johnathan Demme pans the camera about 360 degrees. Another tracking shot that explores everything
The lighting in this scene starts with natural lights of the Hospital. In the area that gives way to Hannibal’s cell is red. Red symbolizes danger, caution, alert. When Clarice walks down the last path to Hannibal’s cell the there are high key, high contrast on both Hannibal and Clarice’s face.
Another way Johnathan Demme tries to get the audience into Hannibal’s character is with camera shots. He continuously shows close-up shots. Johnathan wants the audience to understand the dialogue or rather action through the characters expressions. Because Hannibal plays close attention to his surroundings, he wants the audience to pay close attention to the film. Johnathan Demme cinematically illuminates all the elements of storytelling.