The document summarizes the plot structure of the film "Soul Surfer" in three acts: 1) Act 1 establishes that the main character is passionate about surfing from a young age. 2) Act 2 introduces the conflict when the main character loses her arm in a shark attack and loses hope after failing a competition. 3) Act 3 resolves the conflict as the main character is inspired by support from fans to compete again and comes in second place, recognizing she can still surf with their support.

1. Assignment 6: Simple film
structure analysis
Ingrid De Souza

2. Soul Surfer
• A girl is passionate about
surfing since a very young
age.
• She loses one of her arms due
to a bit from a shark
• Loses hope in surfing after
losing in a competition
• Comes back from Asia where
tsunami hit and receives
loads of letters from fans
saying how she inspires them
• Comes second in a competition,
but recognises that she can
still surf with the support of
her fans.

3. Has the institution created a text with
a conventional narrative structure?
• Yes, there is clear linear narrative as the story
starts at the beginning and finishes at the end.
• Act 1 (set up)
• Act 2 (conflict)
• Act 3 (resolution)
•

4. B) Explain how the film is implicit or explicit?

5. How the film uses conventional narrative structure
(Act 1)
set up

6. (Act 2)
conflict

7. Act 3
resolution
Act 3

8. Why have the film makers used this structure?
The film makers used this structure because it’s familiar to what the
audience are used to watching.
What impact does this have on the audience?
Soul Surfer is about a real life experience that had happened to a surfer, so the
fact that it’s a true story it has a big impact towards the audience. Such as it
being a hard hitting movie, it is also unexpected and shows that could happen
to anyone.
What audience expectations have they established or challenged by
using this structure?
They have established the expectations of the film having a beginning, middle
and end. However, towards the end the audience might have expected
Bethany to have won in first place but she came in 5 th and was still satisfied
with that.