Analysis of a scene from ‘The Bourne Identity’

The Bourne Identity


Shortly after the film has commenced and he has left the fishing boat where the film started, Jason Bourne makes his way to a bank in Zurich to try and find clues to his true identity. He is given a box that is claimed to be his and in a booth he nervously opens it. Throughout the scene he is slowly trying to piece his personal jigsaw together and the deposit box which he opens shows a lot about his character that neither he nor the audience were aware of. When detaching the deposit box in to different compartments, it signifies Bourne himself peeling away layers of his memories and past, finding more out about himself as he progresses. As Bourne is glancing through the context box, the shot is a P.O.V and the pace at which the camera moves around the screen determines how his mind is working. When he is uncertain of who he is at all, the camera moves frantically assessing the box and its contents until he locates his French passports stating his name and address at which point the pace is calm and smooth, reflecting Bourne’s content state of mind. Once he has discovered the contents of the box, the camera looks up at Bourne, as though the power has been shifted because of his newly acquired resources, meaning the audience cannot sympathise as much. The number of passports available at his disposal represents his multiple identities and his spy-like activities, with identity being the main theme and the enigma throughout the film. The amount of money in the box shows he has limitless amount of resources, meaning he will be able to travel around the world without any restrictions, which along with the passports shows it is going to be a global quest. The most important prop however is the gun, not just it being available but the fact that he leaves it behind. This implies his tendency to shy away from violence even when he is surrounded by it, a lot like the start of the film when he has the chance to kill the man on the boat (which he flashes back to), but goes with his heart and decides against it. All of these factors give the audience narrative clues to the themes of the film and what sort of character Jason Bourne is, but also leaving a sense of mystery to enhance character development.