Fictional
films are composed by a string of events and structured based on cause and
effect. While the beginning of a movie and the introduction of certain
characters are always arbitrary, the subsequent scenes, all the way to
dénouement, must happen for a clear reason; an identifiable motivation that
justifies character behavior, action, and goals. The occurrences in narrative
cinema are never random; rather, they are always organized based on a main line
of action and connected through theme.
In The
Shawshank Redemption (1994), when Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of a
crime he didn’t commit and unfairly incarcerated (cause), he begins to plan his
escape (effect).
In
Tootsie (1981), when Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) is confronted by his agent
who says that he will never find job in show business, Michael decides to dress
up as woman and prove that he is a great actor worthy of major roles,
regardless of his gender.
The structure of narrative cinema draws heavily on the
3-act structure and character arc of ancient Greek dramaturgy.
Source: http://www.elementsofcinema.com/film_form/narrative-cinema.html
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