Narrative

Narrative film is a type of film that tells a story from beginning to end using a particular structure. According to Study.com: “narrative theory, these stories follow a format that begins by introducing characters, disrupting their lives, and showing how they overcome adversity to resolve the plot”. A narrative is defined by David Bordwell as ‘a chain of events in cause-effect relationship occurring in time and space’. Although causality (and time and space) is central to narrative, films may also make use of different principles, such as parallelism, where two separate lines of action are intercut in order to allow us to compare and contrast. Network narratives (Pulp Fiction, Babel, etc) – which show parallel lines of action and conceal causal links – are also increasingly popular. The Wizard of Oz is an example of narrative films because it is driven by a story that has a particular structure. It begins by introducing characters like Dorothy, Auntie Em, and Miss Gulch. The characters then experience an upset to their equilibrium – the tornado – that presents them with a challenge to overcome. Finally, the story resolves itself when Dorothy finally makes it home and restores equilibrium to her fictional world. Every scene and song relates to the central plot and doesn’t diverge by introducing sub-plots or characters with their own storylines.