Typical film plot structure - Boy

Typical film plot structure

(Especially in Hollywood movies)

Expository opening/set up: central characters are established, their goals may be introduced.

Often the goals are dual: one is personal, usually romantic; the other is more public(e.g. career, money).

In "Boy" - When the main character is doing a presentation in front of his class, telling them about his interesting life, and after when he is in the class room each of the main characters get slowly introduced to us. Also he tells us of how great he thinks his father is, and maybe his goal is to meet him again because he looks up to him.

Inciting event: an event takes place that incites or triggers plot development (a killing, boy meets girl, a disaster, etc.)

In "Boy" - When his father finally returns home we slowly begin to understand what the plot will be about because we are gradually shown the fathers reasons for returning and what plans he has in mind for his life. This effects his sons because whatever the father does, they will want to go along with him.

Intensification/complication/development: a series of interrelated events (problem1, problem 2, etc.) leading like a series of steps up to a major confrontation

Conflict builds

At the same time, film plots need to keep the audience’s mind fixed on the overall are of the story, on the characters’ main goal despite the intricacies of the plot.

The goal may be defined, re-defined, even temporarily thwarted. Stakes may be raised. Plot turning points are clearly marked.

In "Boy" - This is when the boy starts to find out that his father may not be the person he thought he was, this is first shown to us when the father says to his son "don't call me dad" this comment, I think would make the boy feel like his father didn't care about him and/or was not mature enough to realize that he was this kids father and that he was responsible for this boy. In this section of the movie we also see that the boy tries to grow up too fast so that he can be more like his father, and forgets to be a kid.

Climax: this resolves the problems/conflicts raised during the film and the protagonist’s goal is usually decisively achieved.

It often follows the ‘darkest moment’ for the hero when obstacles seem insurmountable

In "Boy" - This is when the boy finally realizes that he does not want to be anything like his father and that his father did not care about him in the way that he thought he did. So the boy tries to beat up his father to maybe knock some sense into him, to show him that he is not a good person at all. In this moment I believe that the father realizes what his son is feeling, and realizes what he has done.

Epilogue: the restoration of a stable world, usually in a happy ending

Strong sense of closure

In "Boy" - This is when the boy finally decides to be a kid again and he returns to his friends, this shows us that he realizes that he was trying to grow up too fast and he did not want that. Also we see a strong sense of closure when the father finally decides to visit his wifes grave and the boys meet him there and they all sit around the grave. This shows us that the family might have a new beginning and that their problems have been solved. Also it shows that the father wants to be a better role model to his children and he is acting more like a father.