Quentin Tarantino’s second feature film, which won the Palme d’Or in 1994, became legendary from its opening sequence.
“We gotta stop, it’s too risky. I’m out.”
Seated in a Los Angeles diner, two young robbers are discussing where to strike next. The woman is eager to proceed no matter the cost, but the man is cautious. Their conversation, frequently interrupted by a waitress refilling their coffee cups, drags on. After considering various options, they finally decide to rob the restaurant they are in.
They pull out their guns, share a passionate kiss, and start robbing the patrons while shouting. The screen freezes. An electric guitar blares. The credits roll. The Pulp Fiction experience has begun.
Countless Legendary Scenes
Awarded the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1994, and rated an impressive average of 4.497 out of 5 stars by AlloCiné viewers, making it Quentin Tarantino’s top-rated film, Pulp Fiction is truly a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Three decades later, it continues to be analyzed in great detail, especially for its numerous legendary scenes. Filled with iconic sequences like the dance between John Travolta and Uma Thurman, Christopher Walken’s monologue about the pocket watch, or Mr. Wolfe’s scene towards the end, Pulp Fiction kicks off full throttle with an opening that instantly made cinematic history.
A Heavy-Hitting Opening
Characteristic of Tarantino’s filmmaking style (which loves showcasing extended, animated discussions) and very indicative of what the rest of the film holds, the opening is surprising, amusing, disruptive, and delightful all at once.
Driven by the performances of Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer, the scene is all the more remarkable as it reappears at the film’s end, when Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield find themselves in the same diner, closing the film’s somewhat convoluted narrative loop in a perfectly executed manner.
Truly emblematic of its director’s career, the opening of Pulp Fiction owes a lot to the soundtrack that follows: a revamped, explosive version of the romantic Greek song Misirlou. It sets the stage perfectly for entering Tarantino’s world.
(Re)discover the film’s trailer…
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.