Representation in Gladiator

Given that the key aspects in Gladiator are conflict and violence, the opening scene is in marked contrast to this. It is a very soft opening, images from nature such as wind blowing through a cornfield. This peacefulness is reinforced by the sound of birds chirping and children giggling. Unlike many violent films, that plunge you immediately into the heart of the action, this is starting softly and also it’s referring back to his previous life before he’d been captured by Rome and become a gladiator.

We see some clues as to binary opposites: we have a past life that is remembered as happy and peaceful through the imagery of the cornfield, and by the end of the opening sequence, we know that he is living a completely different life. Also, the imagery in the wind and the corn that is natural, compared to when he gets onto the horse it’s all swords and armour that are manmade.

All the sound effects provide a parallel contrast: you go from all the birds chirping and children giggling to total silence. That signifies a break, almost as if it’s saying that that was another life, as if it was gone. The silence puts a stop to the past life, and then it’s replaced by the first signs of conflict and battle: marching, armour, swords clinking.

In terms of costume, the director deliberately hid what he was wearing in the start so it was all about nature and children laughing. As the camera pulls back, we see his armour; he’s gone from just a normal guy to a warrior. The fur almost making him look like a wild beast.

In speech, he’s showing his intent that he wants to go back to his previous life, as he says he’s going to harvest his crops and sending his men back home.