Tzetan Todorov is a Bulgarian/French historian, literature critic, philosopher and sociologist. In 1996, he created a theory which he thought could be applied to any film. This is the 5 part narrative theory:
1. A state of equilibrium at the outset.
Everything is balanced evenly - there is no problem - everything is calm.
2. A disruption of the equilibrium by some action.
Something happens to upset the balance - chaos - things have gone wrong.
Something happens to upset the balance - chaos - things have gone wrong.
3. A recognition that there has been a disruption.
What has upset the balance is recognised. The characters see what has changed.
What has upset the balance is recognised. The characters see what has changed.
4. An attempt to repair the disruption.
People make an effort to bring the balance back - to restore equilibrium - the characters will have to work to make things different.
People make an effort to bring the balance back - to restore equilibrium - the characters will have to work to make things different.
5. A reinstatement of the equilibrium.
The balance is back - equilibrium is restored - all the problems are sorted out.
This can be applied to the film 'Skyfall'. The film starts in an action scene with James Bond on the run chasing someone. This is the equilibrium stage because this is showing his normal daily life, on the run after someone. The disruption stage is when James Bond is shot by his work colleague because his work colleague was trying to shoot the bad guy who James Bond was strangling at the time on top of a train. Leading from this, James Bond falls off the top of the train into a waterfall and supposedly 'dies'. The recognition stage is when James Bond comes back to life (never actually died from his fall) and re-applies to be back in service for MI7. He is still wounded, so he is on a road for recovery, discovering who he really is, an alcoholic etc. He is now told to go after someone else (the villain). The villain also helps James Bond to realise who he is, his habits (drinking) and his bad health. James Bond also realises that the villain is after his work colleague/boss (M) so he attempts to repair the disruption by taking her away to his old home, called Skyfall, to use her as bait. The finale fight between the villain and James Bond happens here at Skyfall leading M and the villain to be killed. After this, the equilibrium is reinstated.
The balance is back - equilibrium is restored - all the problems are sorted out.
This can be applied to the film 'Skyfall'. The film starts in an action scene with James Bond on the run chasing someone. This is the equilibrium stage because this is showing his normal daily life, on the run after someone. The disruption stage is when James Bond is shot by his work colleague because his work colleague was trying to shoot the bad guy who James Bond was strangling at the time on top of a train. Leading from this, James Bond falls off the top of the train into a waterfall and supposedly 'dies'. The recognition stage is when James Bond comes back to life (never actually died from his fall) and re-applies to be back in service for MI7. He is still wounded, so he is on a road for recovery, discovering who he really is, an alcoholic etc. He is now told to go after someone else (the villain). The villain also helps James Bond to realise who he is, his habits (drinking) and his bad health. James Bond also realises that the villain is after his work colleague/boss (M) so he attempts to repair the disruption by taking her away to his old home, called Skyfall, to use her as bait. The finale fight between the villain and James Bond happens here at Skyfall leading M and the villain to be killed. After this, the equilibrium is reinstated.
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