Dawn of the Dead (2004) 3rd Shot Analysis

Finally, this shot is a beautifully captured because of the sun shining on the boat, Ana and also the American flag. This bright ambient lighting of the sun I see it as representing freedom, either into a different place or to heaven, signifying and foreshadowing their death. The lens flare also adds to this sense of freedom.

The American flag also adds to the theme of freedom as it refers back to the historical and institutional context of them being known as the land of the free, while also showing these characters are fleeing from the disease, or as represented in the opening credits, the terrorists. Another film which shows how the American Flag helps the idea of freedom is The Hills Have Eyes where Doug Wood enters a house in which he uses both a baseball bat an icon American Sporting tool and an American Flag as weapons representing the idea of freedom from the people he’s being attacked by, who reference the terrorist attack through the dialogue “you dropped your bombs, turned everything to ashes, you made us what we’ve become” then repeating “boom”.

This scene also includes a lot more close-ups as Frank has come to shot himself after being infected, and there was an American flag behind him when he done this, showing how he’s killed himself rather than joining the army of the undead, showing his loyalty.