What are the main components of a film's narrative structure?

The main components of a film's narrative structure are best represented by the terms exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution. Each of these elements plays a critical role in storytelling.

Exposition introduces the characters, setting, and context for the story, giving the audience a foundational understanding of the narrative. Conflict serves as the central problem or challenge that the characters must face, driving the plot and keeping the audience engaged. The climax represents the peak of the story, where the tension reaches its highest point, and the outcome of the conflict becomes clear. Finally, resolution offers closure by resolving any remaining issues and often reveals the aftermath of the climax, providing a satisfying conclusion to the narrative arc.

While the beginning, middle, and end framework offers a simplistic overview, it lacks the detailed breakdown necessary for understanding the specific mechanics of how narratives function. Similarly, components like setting, character, plot, and theme are essential elements in film analysis but do not encompass the full structure of narrative progression as effectively. Conflict, resolution, and denouement alone focus primarily on the latter parts of a narrative without including the full journey from exposition to resolution. Therefore, the detailed breakdown provided by exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution is most accurate in describing a film's narrative structure