The silence of the lambs.

The silence of the lambs by Jonathan demme, 1991

Summary: A training FBI agent (Clarice)

is given a special chance to go and talk to a criminally insane man named Hannibal lecter to try and gain info on a ongoing serial killer case.

The serial killers name is Jame Gumb or Buffalo bill, he has been killing larger sized woman to take their skin and create a skin suit of a woman to fulfil his fantasy of transformation.Hannibal lecter gives clues to Clarice the trainee FBI agent that eventually enable her to solve the mystery.

Theme:

- representations of the mentally ill

- good vs evil 

- women and oppression 

- theme of 'looking' and 'the male gaze' 

- transformation:

an extremely prevalent theme in this film is transformation, this theme is represented through the symbol of a butterfly or a cocoon. The idea of a cocoon is very soothing for Buffalo Bill because it is everything he wants just that he wants to become a women, we see butterflies and cocoons everywhere throughout the movie, wallpaper on the walls, in evidence and flying around.  

in regards to the idea of looking Hannibal initiate's it when he says "don't you feel eyes moving over your body Clarice"

the idea of the 'male gaze' is supported by constant closeups of men throughout the film, either showing men lusting over Clarice or seeing her as lower.

Genre 

This movie is best described as a Thriller. However it is innovative in the way that it incorporates aspects of many genres for example crime, horror etc.

Using Christine Metz theory we could say that in 1991 it would be considered a deconstruction as it was a different take on the thriller genre. But today it’s considered a classic because thriller films often reuse themes and iconography and conventions of this film.

Something quite common in the thriller genre is a crime procedural, and this is definitely one because we are following Clarice as she solves the murder.

this can also be seen as a phycological thriller due to the themes of the mentally ill and also by the use of closeups throughout the film that are most commonly used to tap into the psychology of the characters.

Iconography of thriller: 

- character change or growth (Trainee to agent)

- cliffhanger 

- shadows 

Filming techniques:

- low key lighting 

Narrative:

- cliffhangers 

Typical characters:

- deranged man (criminal) and a flawed cop

Narrative

In this film restricted and unrestricted Narrative techniques are used to create suspense

Eg.

Unrestricted narrative is used to create suspense when Hannibal is seen eyeing a pen that is inferred that he is going to steal.

Restricted narrative is used when Clarice meets buffalo bill and doesn’t know it’s him.

Subjective narrative depth is used when we see Clarice's memories of her father and this shows that she is sad.

Story structure:

Equilibrium - Clarice training as a FBI agent

Disequilibrium - a new woman is kidnapped by Buffalo Bill

Realisation - Clarice at Buffalo bills first victims room 

Dealing with disruption - at buffalo bills house 

New equilibrium - buffalo bill killed