Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The opening scene of Saving Private Ryan takes place on June 6, 1998 at the Normandy Cemetery and Memorial in France where on June 6, 1944 the Normandy landings took place during World War 2. The film form and style of this opening sequence show us shots of an old man and his large family walking among the many many white cross headstones that stretch out into the distance, visually representing to us the loss of life before we see it ourselves. The consequences of the disregard for human life that took place on D-Day is show here, which is impactful with Hans Zimmer's non-diegetic score playing over it. This location also helps to give context and acts as a frame to the rest of the film. The actor Harrison Young portraying what we later find out to be an old Private James Ryan, delivers an emotional performance as he breaks down among the headstones as he surrounded by his family and begins to have flashbacks to the landings. We are introduced here to a few themes that recur in this film. disregard for human life, the effect war has on people and the importance of family here in this opening sequence and also in the landing sequence. 

These themes are then reflected in the closing scene where we see the older Private Ryan knelt at the grave of Captain John Miller, played by Tom Hanks. The camera is placed behind his headstone and Private Ryan is placed to the right of the cross with his family to the left of the cross, representing the theme of earning the sacrifice that was made for him to have the life he does, this is also represented through dialogue delivered by Private Ryan to Captain Miller's grave "I've tried to live my life the best I could, I hope that was enough, I hope that at least in your eyes I earned what all of you have done for me." Hans Zimmer's familiar score plays over this scene as well as familiar cinematography from the opening scene. This repetition provides different contexts for the emotional impact the scene has when viewed at the start and again at the end.