A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) – Ana Lily Amirpour

Opening mid shot of a girl with her back towards the camera, still shot as she turns around and steps into the light. Cut to a low, wide shot of a man on the couch and the girl standing on the steps on the background. This establishing shot shows the apartment of a notorious drug dealer. The positioning of the girl in the background wearing a dark shawl, adds a menacing air to the scene. However, the soft techno music playing over the top of the scene allows for a satirical and comedic essence to resonate throughout the scene.

Cut to a mid shot of the drug dealer snorting some narcotic off a table, partially hiding his face. Cut to a close up shot of the girls faced – gently disgusted by what is taking place. The soft lighting behind the girl adds to the mysterious and slightly anxious atmosphere that saturates the scene. However, the soft repugnance on the girls adds comfort within a trepidatious setting.

Cut to a mid-shot of the drug dealer, now intoxicated; cut to wide, low angle shot of the drug dealer and the apartment, the girl still in the background. The wide, low angled shot is used in this scene to represent the power dynamic that presents itself to the audience. We see a man sitting on a couch, and elevated slightly above him – the dark, menacing shadow of the girl, lurking in the background.

Still a low, establishing shot, the drug dealer lights his cigarette and inhales deeply. Cut to a close up of the girls face, disgust is more prominent now. Her eyes narrow and she stares at the drug dealer very intensely. This look of poignant distaste, combined with the use of lighting, adds a menacing air to the girl’s character.

Cut to POV of the girl, looking at the drug dealer, shuffling money. Cut to mid, close-range shot of the drug dealer, camera pans left and the audience is given a small glimpse into the girl standing behind him before the camera cuts again to a POV shot of the girl. These types of shots and cinematographic techniques contribute to the air of anxiety whilst also adding some tension between the characters.

Close-up shot of the girl’s face, her eyes are tracking the drug dealer. Wide angle POV shot of the girl looking at the drug dealer. The drug dealer begins doing weights, cut to a close-up of the girl’s face, not impressed. These shots reiterate and accentuate the tension that is forming between the characters. The music that is flowing throughout the scene adds an air of detachment as it does not match the atmosphere.

Tension grows through a wide shot of the drug dealer from the POV of the girl, pausing and beginning to walk over to the girl. The music that is now playing over the top of the scene, combined with the drug dealer’s slow walking and the use of a dolly creates an almost music-video-esque feel to the scene; both patient and urgent.

The shot of the drug dealer slowly moving towards the girl is interesting due to the slight high angled use of the camera. This highlights and further accentuates the power dynamics within this encounter – that the girl, mysteriously, is in control. Cut to a close up of the girl’s face, still looking at the dealer – tension grows. Cut to the drug dealer dancing in an attempt to seduce the girl as the camera follows the dealer and backs away over the girl’s shoulder – again affirming the power dynamic within the scene.

Cut to close up of the girl, her expression grows more menacing as the dealer moves closer to her. Cut to a close up of the dealer laughing and moving away, close up of girl, her expression changing to one of disdain, as if she is merely tolerating the dealer. Cut to a mid-range shot of the dealer walking/dancing to the couch – the camera pans right to follow him and the audience is able to see the dark silhouette of the girl behind him; which contributes to the anxious element of the scene.

Cut to another mid-range shot behind the dealer, the girl’s silhouette still moving slowly in the background, delivering a mysterious anticipation and trepidation to the audience. The camera slowly tilts down and pans right until the girl’s silhouette is finally in focus which leads the audience to believe that the anticipation that saturates the scene is warranted, and that something is about to happen.

Cut to a close up shot of the girl’s hand playing with a cymbal which projects an eerie sound, which creates tides of uneasiness for the audience. Close up shot of the girl’s face, looking sinister and elicits a sense of foreboding. In this shot, you see the dealer’s shadowy silhouette behind the girl and the camera tilts up as he approaches and comes into focus.

Cut to a medium high angled shot of the dealer slowly placing his hand on the back of the girl’s head, turning her around to face him. As this occurs, the music slowly fades to become softer and the scene becomes more menacing. Cut to an over the shoulder shot of the dealer, looking curiously and nervously at the girl. Cut to an over the shoulder shot of the girl as her face is gently stroked by the dealer. These shots cut back and forth in order to establish a relationship between the two characters, regardless of how poignant or meaningless it is.

Cut to an over the shoulder shot of the girl as the dealer brushes his finger over her lips as she slowly opens them, inviting him to flirt with death.

**If this scene continued on YouTube you would see more over the shoulder shots as the dealer inserts his finger into the girl’s mouth and she, as a result, bites it off causing him excruciating pain. Then, high angled shots are used as she kills him in order to provide a climax to the anxiety the audience experiences throughout the scene. Also, high angled shots are used in order to stay true to the power dynamic we witness throughout the scene.