Analysing the opening sequence for ‘District 9’Neill Blomkamp, 2009

We are immediately introduced to an interview scenario. This is interesting because we wonder who the character is. There is only diegetic sound of office workers, the cameraman and the unknown

man in the centre of the shot

We can already tell that this is an awkward character and he doesn’t quite know his way around things. We are not told his relevance

to the story but we are introduced to him first so assume that he is important. He has

a strong South African accent

The camera then cuts to a medium close up when Wikus tells us important information. He establishes the name of

an extra-terrestrial race and tells us how he is involved

We then cut to a helicopter establishing shot of the alien ship. There is a documentary like voice over telling us that the ship stopped over Johannesburg. It is not the voice of Wikus

We are introduced to the man talking and we notice in the bottom left is his name. Another character is introduced. The layout is much like a documentary so we are led to think that this is a story about

the aliens in documentary form

Classic sci fi thriller shot where the alien usually appears but it is a human, perhaps linking to the fact that we are aliens to them. We

are strangers entering their world inside the ship. Possible foreshadowing.

Head cam footage of the discovery of the aliens inside the ship

Establishing shot of the setting of the movie along with the title.

Solidifying the story with another establishing shot of the border of District 9 showing that it is

militarised. A key part of the movie.

Medium shot of anti alien imagery, while someone voices over saying that the Aliens and Humans are kept separate, that people like to be away from them creating tension between Humans and

the Aliens

Important plot point established, an explanation is given for why the ship cant move.

Interviews with citizens tell us that they want the aliens gone from the planet and not a part of their

society.

In summary

The opening to District 9 is mostly establishes storyline and introduces us to the aliens. It also seems to foreshadow a lot as we get the gist that the people speaking are talking about Wikus in the past tense. This sets an interesting pretence of intrigue and mystery as to what his story is, and why he is being spoken about in the past tense.