The opening scene starts off with some old family footage on a hand held camera and melancholic non-diegetic piano music. Towards the end, the camera starts to flash giving the seemingly happy scene, a sinister effect. Suddenly a straight cut shows the protagonist Bryan Mills waking up, suggesting the first scene was a dream. Perhaps he is nostalgic for the memories of his daughter as a little girl. When he turns on the single lamp, the lighting is low key and eerie. The non-diegetic melancholic piano music adds to this effect. When Bryan gets up the camera focuses on the photograph he was looking at- of his teenage daughter, suggesting she plays a major part in the storyline.
When he is in the shop, lots of over-the-shoulder camera angles are used to show the two men having a conversation. As he is wraps the present, close ups of his hands are used to show effort and precision. The music has stopped, to emphasise the focus being put in. Straight cuts are used between shots and the sound suddenly goes from silent to lots of diegetic background noise when Bryan arrives at the party. The party location is extravagant, with fountains and waiters. It is a picturesque setting with a classy white building surrounded by trees and flowers. When Bryan talks to Lenore, over-the-shoulder shots are used again, and diegetic party background noise can be heard.
When Bryan watches his daughter on her new horse, a long shot is used, with other people's heads in the foreground. This makes him feel as though he has been excluded from Kim's life. The sad emotions he is feeling are juxtaposed by the contrapuntal sound of everyone singing happy birthday.
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