The document analyzes the narrative structure of the film "The Impossible". It finds that the film uses a conventional three-act structure: Act 1 establishes the family's holiday in Thailand, Act 2 introduces the conflict of the tsunami that separates the family, and Act 3 resolves the story by reuniting the family members. The structure provides clarity for the audience and satisfies them with the resolution, though a flashback scene from the mother challenges expectations slightly.

1. Assignment 6: Simple film
structure analysis
Amy Cleary

2. The impossible
• A regular family of five travel to
Thailand to spend Christmas there.
• After settling in they go to the pool
like all the rest of the tourists.
• While there they get caught in one of
the worlds worst natural disasters, a
tsunami.
• The mother and the eldest son get
swept away while the youngest two
and dad disappear, not knowing if
either are dead or alive.

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?
Explicit Narrative Reasons Explicit Narrative evidence
Reason 1
They are on holiday in Thailand and
staying in the hotel.
Reason 2
The tsunami hits where there staying.
Reason 3
The mother and eldest son loose the dad
and the two youngest sons.
Reason 4
The mother is the most wounded and
needs help.

5. How the film uses conventional narrative structure
(Act 1)
Act 1-set up
Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4
When they Christmas Eve Christmas day Boxing Day
arrive. “Lucas, Simon and “ Henry” “Lucas”
“Maria” Thomas”
• When they are • They are setting • The parents • They are at the pool
on the off Chinese wake the and unexpectedly a
aeroplane, the lanterns to children up on tsunami hits.
mother panics celebrate Christmas day to
when they hit Christmas. open their
turbulence. presents.

6. Act 2- conflict
(Act 2)
Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 5 Scene 6
“Maria” and "Lucas” “Maria” and “Lucas” “Maria and man”
• A tsunami hits • The mother • A man from the • The mother goes
and the family struggles to climb village comes to the hospital
are separated. the tree as she is across Maria with Lucas. He
However the badly injured. and Lucas and uses his time by
mother and helps her to helping people
Lucas are in sight safety. look for their
of each other. relatives in the
hospital.

7. Act 3
• Act 3-Resolution
Scene 7 Scene 8 Scene 9 Scene 10
“Henry” and “Thomas” “Henry” “Henry, Lucas and “Whole family”
Simon”
• Henry tells Thomas • Henry calls • The three • The family fly
he and Simon have home and brothers are back home after
to be alone for promises reunited and they are
now, as he needs “Brian” he will then find their reunited as they
to look Maria and find Maria and dad. have travel
Lucas. Lucas. insurance and
get special
treatment.

8. Why have the film makers used this structure?
• The film makers have used this structure because its familiar
to the audience and it leaves us as an audience satisfied
because we understand the storyline. If they had changed the
acts around, we as an audience may be confused and become
frustrated because we wouldn’t understand it.

9. What impact does this have on the audience?
• This film can have a big impact on the audience emotionally
as it is a hard hitting film about a real life natural disaster.
• It makes the audience believe they are in that situation as it is
a true story about a real family and it is unexpected and
realistic.
These are photos from
the real tsunami.

10. What audience expectations have they established or
challenged by using this structure?
• They have established the typical audience expectations as
they have used act 1,2 and 3, in this order. However there is a
part where “Maria” has a flashback about what happened as
the tsunami hit her and this part challenges the audience
because it makes a change and its unexpected.