http://youtu.be/YeY1dxlC7Sg
The film opens with a basic, text on black background shot. These are common in a lot of films, usually to give an idea of the time or place a film may be set, and often come shortly after the opening credits.
The text is similar to a neon sign, which matches up to the next scene of a TV shop at night - analysis of the scene reveals that the shop is in fact a mix up of several different styles from time periods; the TV's are in fifties style cases, but they are in colour, with the advertisement being closer to what eighties audiences would be used to. The 'somewhere in the 20th century' gives us an idea of what to expect, but is vague enough that we cannot date the film.
The ominous, dramatic chords of the music signify that this is not going to be a cheerful film, and the viewer is on edge waiting for something dramatic to happen - which it does.
The patter of the salesman provides an interesting contrast with the scene, crossing the mundane with various horror tropes, the music, the night, and the figure who crosses the shot immediately prior to the explosion.
The main title comes up - the word Brazil in large neon lights, like a shop sign as the music reaches a crescendo - signifying a kind of sinister feeling that bad things are being covered up by bright, cheerful lights.
Immediately, the audience is asking questions, what kind of 20th century society is this, who or what was responsible for the cause of the explosion, and how will this fit in and set up the rest of the film.
From the outset its important to illustrate such posts with specific screenshots, and to work on presentation generally
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