Examining Todorov and Levi-Strauss's Theories

Todorov
Girl, Interrupted

1. The protagonist of Girl, Interrupted is Susanna Kaysen, an 18 year old girl, played by Winona Ryder. This is shown by the first shot of a character being a CU of Winona Ryders face, which lets the audience know that the character is important. In addition to this, the first line 'Have you ever confused a dream with life?' is a V/O by Ryder, which makes the audience feel that they can read her thoughts, allowing them to identify with her.

The antagonist of the film could arguably be seen to be the psychiatrist with whom Susanna speaks following the A&E visit, or her mother, due to their clearly made decision to submit her into a mental institution, but as the film continues, the antagonist is shown to be more of a concept; the speed at which people were put into mental institutes in the 1960s, and Susanna's self-antagonism. For the most part of the film, a false antagonist is portrayed in the character of Lisa Rowe, played by Angelina Jolie, a destructive and controlling in-patient who Susanna meets in the ward, who is briefly seen following Ryder's initial CU.

2. The Equilibrium for Susanna is a world where she cannot easily identify with anyone. She is a self-abuser - specifically a 'wrist banger' and sleeps around, noticeably with the husband of her mothers friend. The opening sequence contrasts the equilibrium with events that happen further along in the plot, but examples of the original situation include a scene in which Susanna is thrown down on a hospital bed filmed with a hand-held camera to provoke a sense of panic. Very quick cutaways to CUs and MCUs of doctors make the scene feel rushed and make the character seem isolated amongst other people. In the second flashback, Susanna is at her father's party, but is under dressed in a casual checked shirt which again isolates her from the social and fashionable tone of the party. Repeated cutaways to the friend's husband directly addressing Susanna indicate that he is relevant to her character, and make the audience curious as to his relevance. As the taxi pulls away, there is a backwards pan of Susanna looking out the back window watching the street get further away, which connotes that she is being separated from her normality; her equilibrium.

4.The song that is played in the opening shot is 'Bookends' by Simon and Garfunkel:

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you

This indicates that the film will take place over a long time period (18 months) as it is reflecting on past events. The opening shot is of a silhouette of bars across a window which suggests confinement, which is supported by the psychiatrist sending Susanna to the mental institution. The dark lighting of the flash-forward suggests that the characters will be in a depressing, melancholy environment. The key reasons that are given for sending Susanna to Claymore is that 'You need a rest' and 'You're hurting a lot of people' which indicates that part of Susanna's journey will be to become more relaxed in a typical American setting, without making other people (mainly her mother) ashamed of her behaviour. After being unable to describe her feelings, it is also implicated that she will learn to understand herself through her experience at Claymore.

5.A new equilibrium is formed when Susanna finally chooses to accept the help that Claymore offer, and uses her diary to understand her thoughts on herself and on life. When she leaves, this completes the creation of her new equilibrium, as she again has no support from an institution, but now can have a happier and healthier life.

Levi Strauss
V for Vendetta
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1. V for Vendetta is an action/sci-fi/thriller hybrid. The action is shown early in the opening sequence where the protagonist Evey is attacked by a group of men but is rescued by V, a self-described 'Man in a Mask'. The fight sequence ensues, featuring the government officials attempting to use guns whilst V triumphs over them using a traditional sword. The sci-fi aspect is briefly alluded to when Lewis Prothero, (the ranting chat-show host) mentions the downfall of the United States, showing that the film is set in a possible near-future. The curfew announcement through the loudspeakers, though not strictly displaying modern technology, show how technology is used to drive the government's ideals into the minds of the people. There are some more obvious genre signifiers for the thriller genre, as the company logos are shown in sepia, connoting a sense of foreboding, and the music is dark and ominous. Many of the features of this dystopean setting are deliberately placed to make the audience question the film, for example the reason behind the curfew, the reason for the strong hatred against minority groups and the identity of the 'imposter' that V claims stands in 'Madame Justice's stead'.

2. The main characters are Evey, a young woman, and V, a mysterious, rebellious masked man. The as-of-yet unseen antagonist is Chancellor Adam Sutler, leader of the totalitarian government. Evey and V are seen to initially appear very different but similarities appear later in the film. V is hidden behind his wig and mask which make him appear slightly frightening, whilst Evey appears much more conventional, a pretty woman with curly brown hair who wears make-up. However, V, Evey and Sutler are all introduced as they put on a mask - V has a literal disguise, Evey changes her face using lipstick and Sutler at present hides behind the image of Prothero. As V and Evey simultaneously prepare to go out, both are seen putting on shoes. Evey again wears a common, stereotypical pair of heels, whilst V wear large black boots that cover up his legs, again making him come across as a concealed character. Evey then puts on a necklace, putting an emphasis on beauty and appearance, whilst V stores various weapons on himself, indicating a violent, confrontational nature. Both sets of shoes are seen walking in opposite directions, connoting that they are on different journeys, now and through the course of the film. When Evey is attacked, she begs the 'Fingermen' for mercy, in contrast to V, who instinctively pulls a sword on them, which emphasises the 'fight or flight' differences between the two characters.

3. The main themes of V for Vendetta include Totalitarian Governments and Revolt.

The introduction of the totalitarian government is shown through different social aspects - the television at the beginning sprouts political propaganda, and makes references to actual common culture, so that the audience can identify what could be 'real' in this setting and what could be fiction created by the government. The screen also pays homage to the well-known book and film, 1984. The 'fingermen' are another example of extreme government influence, displaying the violent nature of the authorities.

Revolt is introduced through the character of V and his rejection of social norms. The inclusion of the mask and the wig as props make him stand out from the other characters shown. His dialogue is written to separate him from others also, as the repeated use of words beginning with 'V' show him to have an alternative thought process to others in the setting.

4.  Parallel shots are used to show conflict between the two protagonists - each image is similar to the other, but  always contains a difference that shows the conflict between their personalities. The simultaneous switching off of the TV set by V and Evey creates conflict between the protagonists and the government, which indicates that the government is the antagonist in the film. Later, when Evey is ambushed by the Fingermen, she is afraid whilst they are threatening, showing them to be the malevolent force in the film. V attacks the men, which shows that while V and Evey are the two lead roles, they react differently to situations, which is likely to cause conflict later in the film.

"Anybody can write a film script because it has been reduced to a formula" Dirk Benedict