(P1) Explain how different sound elements are used

Nazi Sniper Scene Sound Analysis -  

Saving Private Ryan -  

The purpose of this scene is to entertain primarily, but also to inform and educate. The film is based on World War I, an extremely historical event. This means that, amongst entertaining the viewer with the cinematography and narrative, the film scenes educate the viewer on the acts of World War I and how traumatic it was for those who fought during it. 

In this scene from Saving Private Ryan, there is an abundance of diegetic sound, and no non-diegetic sound. The scene starts off with rainfall as the American soldiers enter a French town to clear it out. Dialogue is used here at a shouting level as the soldiers communicate over the rainfall. 

We then hear a shot, and Private Caparzo is shot by a sniper from a distance. This is an added sound effect but is also diegetic sound as this is heard within the scene from the German sniper. There is then a subtle use of contrapuntal sound, as Caparzo falls from the shot in weakness but falls onto a piano twice, which plays the keys out loud. This is not contrapuntal music, but it is not the sound that you would expect from the scene which makes it contrapuntal. 

This is then followed by the overpowering sound of rainfall, which renders the American soldiers on the ground a disadvantage against the German sniper shooting from height. This rainfall means that they have to shout to each other which exposes their position further. The audience is aware of this throughout the scene and, subconsciously, this builds tension as the whereabouts of the sniper is still unknown. 

Sound is then also used to show the difference in conditions between the German soldier and the American soldiers. As the scene cuts between both soldiers, the overwhelming sound of heavy rainfall is match cut with the German soldier inside, protected from both the sound and the rain. The conveys the power of the soldiers through sound. 

As Private Jackson searches for the sniper with his own, contrapuntal sound is used again as he repeats prayers to himself whilst aiming down the scope of his sniper. This is then followed by the sound of the weapon firing from Jackson, which is played before we see the impact from the German’s perspective. The sound here is used purposefully so that the audience know what is going to happen before it has happened as they live the scene from the German’s perspective.