Non-genre specific film opening analysis of The notebook

As the film begins, there is a sunset with a man sailing a boat. It is an extreme wide shot to establish the scene and setting. This continues with soft, calming music (piano) whilst the credits are displayed on screen. The shot zooms in ever so slightly, the man is directly facing the sun so is still in shot. Sunsets connote love and romance, immediately setting the scene and atmosphere for the film.As one shot fades into another, the opening credits are still being shown. 

It is a very red sunset and the colour red connotes love, further emphasising the genre. There is also a sense of loneliness and sorrow however, as this character is on his own. The music develops this emotion of sympathy because he is alone on a large lake, no other characters are to be seen. This perhaps foreshadows what is to come that results in him being alone and without a loved one.  The next shot we see is an over the shoulder shot of a women looking out to lake, you get the impression of sorrow because of the music but also because we see another shot of her face, showing lots of emotion. She watches the gentlemen row the boat which suggests she knows him, and the motion in her face implies she has a deep love for this character. 
As the scene continues we understand that these characters being shown perhaps had or have a relationship. We get this impression as the diegetic sound we hear implies lots of emotion but also a sense of sorrow and loss. The elderly man looking in the mirror starts speaking buts its thought to be inside his head. This creates a rapport with the audience and the character, this also shows this character has significance in the film and perhaps he will be the narrator. The close up also emphasises the closeness that will build throughout the film, with the character and the audience.  The next shot we see establishes the setting of an residential home, however, it almost appears to be like a hospital. The connotation of hospital is its a very serious place, suggesting something serious has happened. 

The narration (non-diegetic sound) establishes a rapport with this character, and it allows the audience that this story will be told from his point of view. As the opening continues, we learn more and more about what type of place this is. It appear to be an elderly home that aids people who have a medical issue, perhaps like a hospice. This further allows the audience to come to conclusions of whats going to happen in this film. 
The women is wearing red clothing and a red lipstick. The colour red is a symbol of sexuality but also a symbol of strength, because the gentleman appears to have a relationship with her, the audience assume its a symbol of sexuality. It gives a sense of romance, it is glamorous for a woman to wear it and implies they are attracted to someone. In contrast he is wearing navy blue. The colour connotes stability, trust, loyalty and wisdom, it implies that this character has these traits. It implies perhaps this woman does not have these traits.