Todorov's Narrative Theory

Narrative Theory 

Tzvetan Todorov is a Bulgarian philosopher that  proposed that all narratives whether they be plays, books, or films contained the same series of events with 5 main fundamental stages. He came up with the theory that conventional narratives had 5 main stages called his 'Narrative Theory

1. A state of equilibrium at the beginning- In which life is happy and protagonists life is at peace
2. A disruption of the equilibrium by action;
3. A recognition and realization that there has been a disruption;
4. An attempt to repair the disruption;
5. A reinstatement of the equilibrium can be very different to beginning but always returns to equilibrium

This narrative structure can be applied to most conventional films.