Bus Scene: Stranger Than Fiction

The camera uses long shots as Harold and Ana first start talking. I think this is used to illustrate their awkwardness and the fact that they’re strangers with one another. Ana also is far away from Harold and remains standing to be obstinate about sitting down even though there are open seats. She clearly dislikes Harold and the long shots used literally show the distance between them. One Ana is forced into a seat by a sudden jolt of the bus, the angle goes into a medium shot when the two are on the same level for the first time. Once Harold apologizes and the two carry on with small talk, the shots stay medium and the camera switches back from Harold to Ana as they talk. The only long shot that happens after this is when Ana says thank you to Harold after he compliments her on her white teeth. The purpose of this scene is to show the first social interaction Harold has in the movie, as well as the first interaction he has with a woman. This is outside of Harold’s routine and comfort zone, so it is clear that patterns are continuing to break for him.