Hanna Codes and Conventions

Hanna, a young teenage girl has the strength, stamina and smarts of a solider because of the strict training her father, an EX-CIA, member, put her through. All to become the perfect assassin. When Erick, her father, believes Hanna is ready he then sends her into the deep end of the world on a journey across Europe, trying to stay under the radar of a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own. As she nears her final target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

This film does stay strict and follow many of the Codes and Conventions that are used in thriller films for example the contrast and shades of colours usually being quite dull, quick cuts and edits in time with non digetic music as well as false endings and foreshadowing.

Further more it was stated in an interview behind the scenes of Hanna that all of the soundtracks and scores used in the film were all computer generated and none were live music recorded. 

 In these multiple images theses are all quick cuts in time to a gun sound. This could be triggered by Hanna having a quick but short memory of her mother or This is also linked to the fact that she died by 3 bullets which could mirror why the sounds matches the cuts. Because of how little time we got to see her mother it could leave the audience puzzles and wondering how it was we had just seen , then making it clear later on in the film. Further more the colours are quite dull and this could be linked to because Hanna doesn’t recall much of her mum as well as keeping the serious thought in her head. 

Here we see a contrast in the tone of shades with it almost being like a sanctuary for Hanna before all the action starts. This cold mirror her feelings about the world having the snow as her comfort zone and being isolated from the outside world. 

This image on the other hand is very solid and dull with the colour contrast as well as scenery keeping a very serious tone to the environment. Also the reflection of the windows on the floor almost gives an optical illusion of it being a bigger room than it is almost disorientating the audience making them feel uneasy about this place and what the protagonist could be thinking there. Both images act as opposites to each other as well as characters alike where Hanna’s home is free in the wild where as Marissa is locked in this study building. This could then further more lead to foreshadowing that their environments and personalities will eventually clash.

  In these next few images we see another example of quick cuts in sync with intense music completely mirroring the seriousness of the situation Hanna is in. The massive contrast with bright shinning lights in the pitch blackness of the night really captures the tones of the capture and also how all the solders are stationed outside the cabin anticipate what might happen next. This makes the audience wonder what might happen next as well as being able to see what exactly is going on outside of the cabin where as Hanna cannot. It also puts us at time in her perspective through first person camera shot being able to experience how strange and frightening this all may appear. The sharp lighting also builds tension and suspense as where the bright light hits, solid black figures appear creating an eerie atmosphere adding to the non digetic soundtrack playing in the background.       

                                                                             

                                          

 In this scene we are first introduced to the antagonist, which is where the action starts. Even though Hanna is aiming at the camera that Marisa is watching through the fist person prospective on her is very real as we see the shock in her face as to how dangers her enemy is and what she is capable of. Here we see her first sign of fear as well as a glimpse of what could be foreshadowing. We also see a colour contrast with Hanna being in the lighter room and Marisa in the darker room as well as both leaning opposite directions indicating a power struggle. The effect of the light shows the Hanna is in the right where Marissa is in the wrong, giving the audience a clear picture of who is good and evil.

In this image the window in which Marisa is stations with the screen from the camera reflects off of the window further more showing a power struggle with the two finally clashing. The fact that Hanna is a faded image in the reflection could show how much Marisa underestimates her and how little she knows of her almost like a ghostly figure haunting her.

This scene is another part matching the score in the background however there is a chase happening which the music mirrors very well. The dull facility and the flashing bright lights against the dark create a very intense and interesting chase. Also with the first person prospective camera on Hanna when running to the lockdown door is very intense as it keeps switching between the two, keeping the audience guessing if she will make it through or not. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seats as Hanna may not make it and if she gets trapped what would she do and if Marissa finds her.
 

 As you can see in this shot the camera is rotating round Hanna’s face as she is running with the lights continuously flashing in the background, mirroring her thoughts and panic about escaping the prison. It’s also very jittery, unstable and cuts at some points further expressing her worry and panic. The audience also gets into her person space showing her true feelings and seeing a part of her that was not shown before.
 

 In this scene the camera movement is extremely unbalanced and shaking all over the place as it closes in on Marissa showing how un easy she must be feeling as to what she has to do. If a tripod was used her while filming it wouldn't not have had the same unbalanced effect on the audience. The contrast of darkness also reflects on the mood of the scene and what is about to happen. In the next shot it closes up on the reloaded gun showing that she is armed and that fact that she has loaded it on screen give a sense of foreshadowing as to what will happen next and why she has done this. 

Here you can see that Marissa is towering over Hanna’s mother as if there is a power struggle and the way they are positioned on camera could show that the battle is still not over as long as Hanna is alive. Also the dark contrast with the mum could show that the end is soon to come for her as well as seeing the fire in the distance with Marissa could symbolise her hatred for Eric and her determination to get Hanna. 

Here in this image the audience can see the reflection of Eric in the mirror where as Hanna cannot. This could give the audience mixed feelings about his appearance as well as the fact he has not addressed to her that he is in the room showing that he may be uncertain as to what she may think of him. The close up gives the audience an idea of how lost she must be feeling while as the story goes on the more questions build up against her father as well as her own existence. It could indicate that both of them have arranged to meet here however she is starting to wonder whether it was the right choice to make.

 Here was can see a powerful colour contrast with total darkness and only the faint glimmer or light curving round the side of the tunnel . This could lead to the audience being left in the dark and uncertain as to what may happen next. Also they are put into the same shoes as the protagonist where they cannot see nor predict what may come. This builds up tension because we are unable to see what lurks in the shadows and guided by a small light meaning that we are in a dangers place and not knowing if Hanna will make it out alive, holding the audiences breathe if she will be all right.

Here we can see Hanna towering over the camera, Marissa’s point of view, as the power struggle is over. Also as the camera focuses on the gun it shows that Hanna is armed giving her more power and generating fear. This particular shot can be interpreted as in the beginning she was at the same level hunting the deer and that Marissa could simply symbolise nothing more than an animal being hunted. On the other hand this is the exact position Hanna’s mother and Marissa was in when she killed Hanna’s mum however this time the tables has turned and Hanna is the one with a high statues and more dangerous than Marissa.