Narrative Structure

Although in a short film there is not a lot of time for equilibrium to be established, it is important to consider the narrative structure in order to make the film understandable and represent key features of the plot that cannot be changed. The equilibrium is established within “two” is the relationships between Rhys and Kathy, brother and sister and Rhys and Lucy, two good friends and colleagues. The connections between Kathy, Lucy and the films protagonist Rhys are standard and relatable relationships for the audience. Even the troubles that later become evident between both Rhys and Kathy are commonly found in society. The clothing that all the characters wear also represents normality. They are all well kept and each of them shows pride in their appearance. The style of clothing is also a common feature of young adults and makes them easier to relate to.

The disequilibrium for this film is the decision that Rhys has to make. It threatens his normal life and holds the possibility of breaking his heart and therefore hurting him.  The choice disrupts their everyday lives and forces them to exist outside the boundaries set by society.  The fact that Rhys is forced into a decision between saving Kathy and Lucy destroys his previous life as it does not allow anything to return to as it was previously. The disequilibrium is featured at the start of the film and is carried through until the end. There are a variety of aspects that portray this change. Rhys’ behaviour alters dramatically. He begins the narrative frightened but managing to hide it behind a façade of confidence. By the end after deciding upon Kathy’s death his posture is no longer rigid but slumped as if he no longer as the will to live. His voice and language are lacking emotion and are cold as the decision appears to have hurt Rhys to the point where he is psychologically removed from the situation.

The resolution of the piece is when the equilibrium is returned to the narrative. In the case of “two” the death of Kathy brings the end of the film to what could be interpreted as a return to normality; both Lucy and Rhys are free to return to the world. The decision has been made so for now there is no danger to the characters. It helps to represent to the audience that although normality has not always been carried through this episode of their lives that it has always been present in the world around them. This is not a strong return to equilibrium as both Lucy and Rhys will never be the same as they were previously but it does reinforce that the danger and fear that encompassed the decision Rhys had to make has now diminished.

Action and Enigma codes are also an important feature of a film. The enigma codes are crucial as they pose questions to the audience about the narrative and keep them interested in the film. The action codes are how the enigma codes are portrayed to the audience. Within my idea for “two” the largest enigma code possessed is about who will Rhys choose and that is not answered until the final moments of the film. There are also a lot of questions posed that are never answered and is left to the audience to decide, allowing them to engage with the film on personal levels. These questions are Why Rhys? Where are they? Who is Lance? There are also enigma codes that answered as soon as they are posed; an example being, wondering who Kathy is. Through dialogue it will become clear that she is Rhys’ sister. Knowing this information helps to give audiences a sense of power as they know more about the characters in the narrative.