10 Opening Movie Scenes That Do More Than You Realise
3. Establishing The Male Gaze - The Silence Of The Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs is a masterfully directed thriller with the late, great Jonathan Demme working at the absolute peak of his powers - enough that it won him a well-earned Best Director Oscar.
Yet beyond the many memorable moments throughout the film, there's a scene right at the start of the movie that's actually doing so much more than it seems.
In an opening scene, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) meets with the slimy Dr. Frederick Chilton (Anthony Heald), but even before Chilton makes his toe-curlingly awkward pass at Clarice, Demme spells it all out with one telling shot.
The establishing shot of Clarice in Chilton's office shows her framed by a painting of four men who also happen to be staring at her, while she's stood next to some orchids. The significance of orchids? The word is derived from the Greek word "orchis," meaning testicle.
Clarice spends the entire film being subject to the male gaze in numerous ways - as is so brilliantly realised by Demme's use of POV shots - but even before the story proper has begun, it's subtly suggested that all (male) eyes are on her.