Captain Fantastic: Opening Scene

 

Captain Fantastic: Opening Scene

The first impression of the lifestyle that this peculiar family follows is that it is mainly based on survival and the separation from civilisation. The environment in the forest is completely natural, without any sign of human infrastructures damaging the natural beauty of the forest.

The first shot of the deer in its natural habitat, peacefully prowling between the trees, represents the calm in his surroundings. The camera follows the deer, shakily, which gives a sense of realism that is supported by the natural sound of trees being moved by the wind, other animals further away and the deer itself. The sound is amplified when the animal eats a leaf, oblivious that it is going to be hunted. The animal and the human are shown in the same shot: the deer closer to the camera and unfocused, showing its unawareness and innocence, and the human getting the audience’s attention behind it.

A sound hints at the deer that it is being watched, and the audience knows that it is the human camouflaged with the environment, waiting to attack. The abrupt change in the sound catches the audience off guard. It goes from the peaceful sound of nature to the animal’s screams and the man’s grunts as he attacks the deer. The camera shows the chaos as it follows their agitated movements. The chaos does not last long as the man slices the deer’s throat, and then the audience gets to see for the first time, a clear shot of the young man’s face covered in mud. The animal grunts as it dies and there is a close shot to the human hands covered in its blood. At this point, the character can be identified as a primitive that had to kill the deer for the purpose of survival.

The young man is more likely to be considered as the main character as he is the first person shown in the film and we see the importance that the other characters give to the exchange between the father and him.

The camera shows the young man’s hands covered in blood and the knife that he holds, which clarifies that he is not completely primitive as he uses “modern” weapons to hunt. He separates himself from the deer’s body and the camera shows a medium closeup to his face. Behind him, the river and the forest with the natural sounds. He sighs while looking down at the deer, differentiating himself from modern hunters who would be celebrating the death of the animal, which supports the idea that he did it for survival. The camera shows an extreme closeup to the closed eyes of the animal, laying on the forest ground before showing the man once again. Behind him, unfocused, other people appear from their hidings in between the trees of the forest, revealing that he is not alone.

At this point, the audience is encouraged to think about themselves. They compare to the characters shown on screen and think if they would be able or not to live in a place like this: away from civilisation depending on their instincts.

The camera cuts to the others as an introduction of the characters. First, a young kid who is also adapted to the natural environment from the way he dresses and the mud that covers his body, and then the other young kids who are also camouflaged. They all walk to the deer passing the camera where the young man is standing, leaving a young girl and a kid in the middle of the screen. The kid climbs over her back without speaking, showing that this is ordinary and happens all the time, and together they follow the other kids to where the deer is laying.

After the kids have passed the camera, the focus goes directly to the man appearing for the first time through the branches of the forest. This man, obviously older than the others, represents leadership as the camera angle “glorifies” him as well as loneliness. He is shown to be comfortable in the heart of the forest but appears to be alone as he is the only one that does not have anyone around him. The camera cuts once again to the young man looking down at the deer, leaving the leader unfocused and behind him.

The leader then makes his way to the young man and the deer, not minding having to walk through the river, which he does completely confident. The young man’s attention leaves the deer and focuses on the leader who is now beside him. The camera shows them in a medium long shot, pointing out the leader laying his hand on the young man’s shoulder, reassuring, congratulating and/or proud while they both look down to the deer’s body. This encounter hints that they may be related as it is a parental approach. The sound of the man cutting the deer with his own knife fills the audience’s ears as the camera shows the kids behind them, appreciating both men and deer. Now the man also has blood on his hands while holding something.

A closeup to the man’s face looking down at the young man, who reciprocates with no emotion whatsoever. The young man seems to be waiting for something, and after a long pause, the man speaks the first words of the film, which have certain similarities with a ritual. He stains the young man with the blood of the deer while saying that he is no longer a child and that he has now become a man. After he speaks, the camera looks for reactions. First, the young man, who now seems to be happy and proud of himself, and then the other younger kids who also seem to express pride. As part of the ritual, the young man takes a bite of the deer’s bloodied heart given by the leader. The audience is in shock and are confused as to why none of the other characters are reacting to that.

The man, still with blood and the knife on his hands, brings his hands up and down, as if he was giving something to him. The first non diegetic smooth music appears as the title of the film is shown by his side, insinuating that he is Captain Fantastic.

Following up, a sharp cut where the non diegetic music and peaceful sounds disappear and are replaced by the chaotic sound of the river. The man is now cleaning himself from the mud with his breaths being amplified, as are the rest of the kids. All seriousness is contrasted with the man splashing water to the children in a playful way. The first sense of a family shown in the film. The father playfully shouts as he is being attacked with water by his kids until it fades in an echo and transitions to another scene.

Now, both men hold the deer while walking with the kids following close behind, most likely going back to their home. A long shot shows the family in the complete natural environment in the middle of the forest. Then, another cut to them already in their “base” or home hanging the deer. The children are helping without hesitation, showing that they are used to it.

Lastly, a shot of the father leaving them alone while looking at his old fashioned watch. It is also the first time that the audience gets to see where they live: a small house between the trees where they have a system and are comfortable. “Training in sixty minutes” is what he says to their children while looking at his watch and walking away. It hints that their family is not normal and that they are not treated as small and innocent children. They are not being treated as normal kids, instead they are being educated in an extreme way that may be beneficial in certain areas but a complete disadvantage if we consider the “real world” and society.