1. Film A Critical Introduction – 3rd
Edition, Maria Pramaggiore and Tom Wallis,
Laurence King Publishing 2011
Narrative Structure
The Standard pattern that shapes narrative films is the three-act structure. Act One
introduces characters, goals, and conflict(s) and ends with a first turning point, which causes
a shift to Act Two. A turning point, which may be signalled through dialogue, setting, or
other visual or sound techniques, represents a moment when an important change has
occurred that affects a character or situation. Generally, at this point the main character
(the protagonist) modifies the methods by which she plans to attain her goals, or changes
those goals altogether. In Act Two, the protagonist meets obstacles, possibly arising from
the actions of another central figure who opposes her, called the antagonist. The conflicts
increase in number and complexity, leading to a major turning point, referred to as the
climax. Act Three presents the denouement, a series of events that resolves the conflicts
that have arisen—not always happily. When the concluding moments of the film tie up all
the loose strands, leaving no unanswered questions, the film is said to provide closure.
Film scholar Kristin Thompson has recently argued that both classical and contemporary
Hollywood films actually exhibit a four-part structure. The parts, which are of roughly equal
length, are demarcated by turning points linked to character goals. The main difference
between the three-act model and Thompson's four-part structure is that she locates a
critical turning point at the midway point—the "dead center" of the film.
In the four-part structure, the introduction leads to an initial turning point, which is followed
by a complicating action. This leads in turn to the central turning point at the halfway mark.
After that shift, a period of development takes place; this is where the protagonist clearly
struggles toward goals. That struggle leads to the climax, followed by the resolution and
epilogue.
At the beginning of a film, audiences find themselves thrust into a fictional world of
characters and actions they cannot fully understand. To help orient viewers at the opening
of a film, filmmakers often impart a great deal of information in a relatively short period of
screen time. The very opening of the film, dense with narrative details, is called the
exposition. The exposition brings viewers “up to speed" on place, time, characters, and
circumstances. The exposition is not synonymous with the first act, however. The first act
includes the exposition but generally is longer, because it also sets up the film's primary
conflict.
Three- and four-part narrative structures
Three-Act Structure Four-Part Structure (Thompson)
Act One: Exposition leads to turning point 1 . Exposition leads to turning point
Act Two: Complications lead to climax 2. Complicating action leads to major turning
point at halfway mark
3. Development: struggle toward goal leads
to climax
Act Three: Action leading to resolution 4. Epilogue