Sound in 'Hannah and Her Sisters'

Hannah and her Sisters (1986), directed by Woody Allen, begins with his traditional visual style of title sequence, in this instance with a piece of jazz music playing over it. This is non-diegetic music and helps to establish the characters in the opening scene and the overall atmosphere of the film. The style of music is associated with America, relating to the New York setting and connotes a sense of nostalgia. This nostalgia, or longing for the past, reflects the character’s futile pinging after his wife’s sister whom he is in love with. This is supported by the connotations jazz music has with a two person dance, emphasising his feelings for her. The music is energetic, further establishing the lively party setting, which is established later through diegetic sounds, and the animated nature of the woman. It also indicates that the character may be intellectual and sophisticated, as jazz had a greater popularity in the 1940s era and was uncommon in the 1980s setting’s mainstream. This piece becomes the motif of the two character’s relationship as it develops and changes throughout the film.

Immediately after the title sequence are the written words ‘God, she’s beautiful.’ which are displayed before any visuals. These, juxtaposed with the image of the male character directly afterwards, imply that these are his thoughts, as is confirmed by his repetition in his voice over instantly afterwards. The absence of sound in the writing before he speaks signifies the personal and contained nature of the audience is seeing, while the voice over indicates his inability to supress it.