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The opening scene of a film has to accomplish so much in so little time. These scenes must immediately set the tone but not give too much away, still holding suspense. It\u2019s a challenge that can make or break a movie. The Michigan Daily Arts writers are here to break down the greatest opening successes, from the most moody, serious French films to the impossibly ridiculous ones, all in a minute. Sixty seconds on the clock \u2014 on your marks, get set, read!<\/em><\/p>\n \u2014 Ben Luu and Campbell Johns, Summer Managing Arts Editors<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBeau Travail\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Naked contrast paints the opening frames of Claire Denis\u2019 1999 film. Despite opening on a brief panning of muraled walls that portray soldiers clustered in shadow, we feel the dry, oppressive heat of the day and can\u2019t get the last of the dust out of our noses. A soldier\u2019s chant rings out, one of the French Foreign Legion<\/a>; we know this from the language and references to African sun, Madagascar and \u201cCochinchine\u201d or, more contemporarily, southern Vietnam, all areas where the legion has been historically deployed. The viewer immediately understands they are situated on a foreign legion base, a tropical vestige of French colonial holdings,\u00a0and the cast is comprised largely of members of the popular class. Whether young legionnaires or from the host country, the majority are Frenchmen pursuing a last chance at societal integration or nationals of relatively less wealthy countries seeking French citizenship.\u00a0<\/p>\n