2. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
• Based on a true story of a man named Christopher Gardner who
invests in a device known as a ‘bone density scanner’, which he is
unable to sell.
• As he tries to figure out how to sell them, his wife leaves him, he
loses his house, his bank account and gains custody of his son.
• Gardner is forced to live out on the streets, with his son, as he tries
to sell the remaining scanners – all the while looking for a steady
job.
• He goes through training to become a stockbroker – without pay –
and after 6 months in the training programme finds out that he has
been offered the job.

3. A) HAS THE INSTITUTION CREATED A TEXT WITH A
CONVENTIONAL (STEREOTYPICAL) NARRATIVE
STRUCTURE?
Yes, there is a clear linear narrative which can be broken
down into:
Act one - Set up
Act two – Conflict
Act three – Resolution

4. B) EXPLAIN HOW THE FILM IS NARRATIVE IMPLICIT
OR EXPLICIT?
Implicit/explicit narrative reasons: Evidence:
• Explicit because – we know that
the main character (Chris
Gardner) is poor.
• Implicit because – we don’t know Whether he will
what will happen to him
• Explicit because – it

5. HOW THE FILM USES CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE
STRUCTURE (ACT ONE)
Act one – Shows Chris Gardner and their struggle to survive as they are
unable to pay bills. Shows how the got to where they are.
Flashback
This scene is a
flashback of their live
before they became
poor ( buying the Bone
Density Scanner)

6. HOW THE FILM USES THE CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE
STRUCTURE (ACT TWO)
Arguments between Chris and his wife Loses his home: Becomes
the parents. seperate
homeless

7. HOW THE FILM USES THE CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE
STRUCTURE (ACT THREE)
Living at a motel Applying for the Kicked out of the Given the job
stockbroker motel
internship
After selling his last Chris applies for a Unable to pay the fees Chris is invited into
bone denstiy scanner, stockbroker training Chris and his son are the meeting room and
Chris makes enough course where only one forced to leave the is told that he is
money to rent a motel out of 200 get the job motel accepted and has
room landed the job

8. WHY HAVE THE FILM MAKERS DONE
THIS?
The film makers have used a linear narrative structure because:
• It is easier for the audience to understand
• It is a guaranteed sale for the film producers.

9. WHAT IMPACT DOES THIS HAVE ON THE AUDIENCE ?
The impact is that :
• The audience will be able to enjoy the movie
• It means that there will be more interest in the film.
• The audience will come away satisfied with the movie.
• However, it may mean that the audience may become bored of the same plot /
narrative.

10. WHAT AUDIENCE EXPECTATIONS HAVE THEY
ESTABLISHED OR CHALLENGED BY USING THIS
STRUCTURE?
The expectations they have established are:
• That the movie will be sequential ( in order) from beginning to end.
The expectations they have challenged are:
• That the movie will be different to others ( not predictable)