The opening scene features Mookies girlfriend, Tina, aggressively dancing to Public Enemy’s ‘Fight the Power’. Here, Tina functions ‘not as a character in the narrative, but as a pure symbol of creative and destructive black youth’.(xxxxxxx) This sequence is perhaps the most significant and strategic mise-en-scene within the film; foreshadowing the violence and racism that is to come. The setting of Brooklyn is intensified with bright red lights, similar to the warm colours used throughout the film. This colour motif is especially significant as it underscores the underlying racial tensions within the neighbourhood. The quick shift in shots and close-ups of an aggressive Tina also serve to illustrate how fast racial tensions can explode into physical violence. …show more content…
The anger of the characters is manifested in the red boxing gloves as she punches to the beat of ‘Fight the Power’. Here, the colour motif of red is repeated whilst the boxing also alludes to Radio Raheems monologue about love and hate which is shown later in the film. In the final shot of this scene, Tina wears a blue bodysuit – the buildings remain bathed in red. Whilst blue presents peacefulness and the surface level luke-warm affability between white and black folk, the red buildings show that hatred caused by racism continues to boil underneath. The mise-en-scene within the opening sequence cleverly utilised lighting, costume and props among others to foreshadow the violence and anger; whilst also introducing specific motifs which illuminates the theme of