Extended Analysis of Film Opening of 'Pearl'

Directed by Ti West, 'Pearl' is a horror movie released in 2022 about a girl with the titular name who lives on a farm with her stern mother and disabled father while her husband-Howard-is away, serving in the war. She dreams of stardom, fame and to escape the monotony of her life on the farm.

The film begins with light music and two doors opening to show the image of a beautiful farmland with birds chirping in the background, pastel skies, chickens pecking on the ground as a mud filled path reaches a creamy yellow colored house with four windows and a gray roof, a red barn in seen off in the distance and a windmill near it. The scene transitions as the camera pans to show rows of framed photographs of what we can assume are Pearls parents, her and her husband, and baby pictures. As the camera pans further, we see old dolls and more Polaroid pictures hanging from a thread above them. The wallpaper is a dull blue with flower patterns printed on it. As it pans further, we're introduced to Pearl, who's sitting down in front of a dressing table, gently touching her braids, she's wearing a pink dress and has barely any makeup on. She appears very elegant and poised, not at all as if she were just a simple farm girl. However, since we were introduced to the setting before the character, we can tell that Pearl isn't really as poised as she's appearing, which is a central theme in the movie; appearances. Pearl appears poised. She's moving her head left and right, seemingly analyzing for any flaws in her hairdo, finding none she gets up gracefully, appears to be getting up 'gracefully' and twirls around to see herself in the mirror from further back. Suddenly the light in the room coming from the back window is gone as we see a silhouette of Pearl in the darkness. The lights turns back on, but this time, only on her, appearing as a spotlight, thrusting her in the position of attention which she gladly accepts, as the lights turn on the music resumes louder, she dances to it slowly and the camera pans again, from its initial position on the mirror to now directly looking at Pearl...suddenly she gasps as she hears the door open as the spotlight fades to the natural light it was before, showing her mother standing there dressed plainly in muted shades of grey, white and a hint of dark mahogany, her eyes look Pearl up and down as the camera angle switches to an over the shoulder angle, showing Pearl looking back at her mother, now timidly. As her mother steps forward, she takes a step back, symbolizing the power dynamic and possible strictness of the mother, Ruth. She speaks in German.

'Where did you find that? Did I say you could wear my old things?'

Adding further:

'Take it off. Get down to the barn and feed the animals like you promised you would.'

This 3-minute interaction shows the dynamic between mother and daughter, setting the tone for a possible drama and conflict between them, which is another central theme in Pearl. Her relationship with Ruth is strained, who seems to hate her own daughter for seemingly no reason, we later learn it might be due to Pearls dreams of something other than the farm's plain old life. The contrast of Pearl's clothes as compared to her mothers is quite different. While she's wearing makeup and bright colored dresses, her mother is only seen in grays and darker colors, contrasting with their personalities: Pearl with her 'bright' showy alter ego who wishes to be 'a star' in her own words, and Ruth who despises every aspect of the showbiz. She in fact seems to hate it so much that she tells Pearl she's "ill" for acting the way she does, for wishing for something more than the mundane lifestyle she's currently subjected to.