Narrative | portfolio

A films narrative is the way in which the movie tells the story.

‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ – Adventure

The narrative is engaging because the story being told is exciting and strange, and one that you will understand when you watch the entire movie which makes you want to watch on. One of the main characters, Sophie, is also quite relatable and so the audience sympathises for her and they can see themselves in the character, therefore growing a bond with them and feel obliged to watch the rest of the movie to see what happens.

Events within then narrative, such as Howls connection with Sophie is engaging to the audience because you don’t find out until the end how he knows her and neither does Sophie, so the audience is constantly wondering how he knows her, why he chose her, or where to find her. Which is the equilibrium up to when they meet, and shortly after, early on in the narrative, is the disruption of the equilibrium, when Sophie is attacked and cursed by The Witch of The Waste. This engages the audience as there is action so early on in the film.

There is then the recognition of the disruption, to which we then follow Sophie on this journey/ adventure where she needs to find a way to undo the curse, again engaging the audience to find out how and if she will do it. There is also the dramatic irony where the audience find out that she has the power to undo the curse all along, by admitting that she loves Howl.

There is then an attempt to repair the damage of the larger situations that happened, in which Sophie forgets about her own problems to help save the ones she loves. And after the audience believe all hope is lost Sophie saves everyone and therefore creates a new equilibrium.

‘Beetlejuice’ – Comedy

The narrative is engaging, by having the short-lived equilibrium quickly disrupted by the death of the two main characters, therefore the audience watch on to find out what then happens to them in the afterlife, and the challenges they face. Yet again engaging, as how hard could being a ghost be?

There is then the recognition of the disruption, where the ghosts try to get rid of the new homeowners, as the new owners try to rid the house of ghosts. This is when Beetlejeuse is then called upon for help, this engages the audience as he seems to be the unconventional type of character to be the hero and so they watch on to see what he will do. The audience is then engaged by the character again as we are shown the wild journey he puts everyone through, as his character tends to mess things up purposely, then finding out he has no intention of helping anyone but himself. In everyone else’s attempt to counteract Beetlejeuse’s doings, the audience is yet again drawn in to the narratives worsening nightmare of the characters as Beetlejeuse always seems to outdo them.

The home owners and the ghosts join teams in creating the new equilibrium, engaging the audience for the final time as they dispose of their Beetlejeuse problem and live their lives better together.