Roland Barthes's 5 Codes

When I got home the night the homework was set, my sister asked me if I wanted to watch a film called "Unknown" with her. I thought 'Hey, why not do media at the same time?'. So cleverly, I did :)

Here's what I got out of the first 10 or so minutes of this film...

OMG Why is it so difficult to find any clips anywhere?!
"Unknown" movie (watch first 10 minutes)

Enigma code:

• What is the character writing in his notebook?
• They are on a plane- where to and why?
• Their luggage was left behind- significant? What will happen?
• Blurry shots - CU - What on earth is going on?
• His phone has lost signal.. hmm interesting.

Action code:

• Getting off a plane is usually followed by a journey somewhere else.. unless you decide to spend your holiday in the airport, fun times.
• Suitcase left behind - Maybe someone will come searching for it.
• Taxi plunges into a raging river of death - surely there will be panic and possibly death?
• Main character waking up in hospital attached to machines - recovery journey.
• Loss of memories - another journey, to find memories?

Semiotic code:

• Plane window - CU - freedom, travel.
• Passport- associated with travel, airports, and also identity.
• Water showering down and tiled walls- know it's a bathroom, without even seeing the whole.
• Woman in white gown, and oxygen mask- hospital, or could be a torture room, but not likely :/
• Reception room with chandeliers and elevators - expensive hotel.

Cultural code:

• Both the protagonist and his wife have big furry coats on - richly dressed.
• Taxi - not black or even yellow, but white - Berlin taxis.
• Blackberry- Product placement. Relatable to audience, since it's become so mainstream now.
• Graffiti on brick walls- we've all seen it before. Associated with rough neighbourhoods- contrast to the fancy hotel before.
• Grand hotel itself- connotations of rich people/ luxury.

Symbolic code:

• Black vs. white - darkness and light - binary opposites between husband and wife (their coats are opposite colours) - Maybe foreshadows a separation or conflict.
• Broken windows - shattered. Symbolic of a shattering relationship - future implications.