Sound Use in Hanna

            

The combination of diegetic and non-diegetic sound allows us to perceive Hanna as a skillful, trained agent and ultimately as the protagonist.  The harsh buzzing in the cell (amplified) as well as the fact that the woman says “You’re in a safe place, sweetie,” while being fed lines through a walkie talkie/earpiece leads us to believe that in fact she is not in a safe place, that she must try to escape the cold, bare cell.  The metallic thud and heavy amplified synchronous sound of the cell door let us know that escaping the cell would be difficult.  The non-diegetic soundtrack that begins to play after Hanna cracks the woman’s back is fast-paced, emphasizing the urgency of her situation.