The document analyzes the film Taken using Propp's narrative theory, which identifies common character archetypes in stories. It discusses how the main characters in Taken - Brian as the Hero, his daughter Kim as the Heroine, and her kidnappers as the Villains - fit the expected roles of restoring order. Brian is dispatched by both himself and Kim's mother to rescue his daughter from the Villains, and receives information from a friend acting as the Donor. While most narratives include a Helper, Brian works alone in Taken. A character initially helping Brian but later betraying him fits the role of the False Hero.

1. Explained using Taken, a film from the action thriller genre

2. The Hero is traditionally
the main character in
the film who’s role is to
restore order and in turn
the equilibrium of the
narrative. This tends to
be achieved by
defeating the Villain
and saving the Heroine
– who’s love the Hero is
trying to capture.
In the film Taken, the
Hero is played by Brian
Mills – who goes to find
his daughter and bring
her home to safety, as
well as killing those who
kidnapped her.

3. The Heroine is
traditionally the
vulnerable character in
the film, taken by or
under the pursuit of the
Villain. The Heroine
therefore needs
rescuing by the Hero
within the film in order
for equilibrium to be
restored.
In the film Taken, the
Heroine is played by Kim.
When on a holiday in
Paris she is kidnapped by
sex traffickers, her father
therefore comes to find
and rescue her.

4. The Villain is usually the
cause of disruption in
the film and needs to
be defeated by the
Hero for peace to
resume again. The
Villain also poses a
threat to Heroine’s
safety – this is also why
the Hero feels the need
to overcome them.
In Taken, there are 3
villains. These are the
men that possess Kim
during the film; Marco,
Patrice Saint-Clair and
an unknown man - all
are killed by Brian.

5. The Dispatcher is the
character which sends
the Hero on his journey
to restore equilibrium to
the narrative. This in
turn, then gives the Hero
a chance to prove his
worth. He achieves this
by overcoming the
Villain and saving the
Heroine.
In Taken, the Dispatchers
are both the Hero himself
and Lenore. Brian Mills
had already decided to
go and find his daughter,
but Kim’s mother asked
him to do this also.

6. The Donor in the film
gives something to the
Hero towards the
beginning of the film to
help him on his journey
or to help him start it.
Traditionally this is
something magical
however it could be a
physical object or
information.
In Taken, the Donor is
Brian’s friend Sam who
gives him the vital
information at the
beginning of the film of
who it is that ha his
daughter Kim.

7. The Helper assists the
Hero throughout the film
in re-establishing the
equilibrium. This may be
in the form of a sidekick
which is the traditional
place that a helper
takes, or helpful in a less
direct form – supporting
morally or from a
distance.
In Taken there is no
Helper, Brian goes abut
saving Kim with lots of
little help from different
sources, the majority of
the journey is done
predominantly solo.

8. The False Hero begins
the film seeming to be
on the side of the Hero,
giving him advice or
such to help him
complete his journey.
But then, later on in the
film, the False Hero
‘shows his true colours’
and deceives the Hero
or turns against him.
In Taken the False Hero is
Jean-Claude Pitrel, who
at first gives Brian
information to help him
find his daughter,
however later on hands
him to the police.

9. Through Propp’s Narrative Theory we
can conclude that films share the same
structure with the same basic character
layout, and our various narrative
experiences allow us to subconsciously
recognise these different roles. However
not all narratives will include all these
characters, and the roles may have
variations from these stereotypes.