Home Alone

Home Alone is a 1990 American comedy family film directed by Chris Columbus . An eight-year-old boy, who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas holiday.

Home alone has a typical narrative structure that could be followed my Todrovs theory. The equilibrium which is something that classifies as a typical narrative structure situation. Disequilibrium is something that changes the set of circumstances and the last stage is the resolution altered the recognisable genre which in this case is a family/comedy.

The first scene of the family film begins with an establishing shot to recognise the setting  of the family home. This shot captures what season it is as well as their is snow outside and the use of props lighting that decorates the house to show its Christmas which is seen as a family holiday break, ironic to the genre of the film. The characters within the house are all busy and kids and parents again to show the family genre and the equilibrium as it relates to a typical family home lifestyle. The crowded house of the family represent its busy as a person dressed as a police officer is not succeeding in getting their attention as they completely ignore him which brings out the humour. We are introduced to the main character within the sequel as he firstly has the main speech in the scene which is focused on more with a close up shot of him. He is seen as a typical young boy as he the dialogue used; diegetic shows that he wants to do something that is not suitable for him and interrupting his mother whilst she’s on the phone. A high angle looking down at Kevin captures the innocence of the child as he is only young and very venerable. As a innocent character he looks to his older siblings to help him pack a suit case as it’s his first time, this all revolves around Todrvos narrative theory as it is a typical equilibrium to a start of a family comedy genre, showing a typical family.

The disequilibrium occurs in the next scene as the power cuts off over night, which turns off the alarm clock set to wake up the next morning for their trip to France for Christmas.  Fast cross cutting is used to show the family in a rush to get to the airport. Again which symbolises a typical family action as they are running through the airport. The use of non-deigetic music is used as its fast pace and related to the family season Christmas. (run run Rudolph). The use of cross cutting is used again as the family seem relived they all made it except a medium shot captures the young innocent boy Kevin at home just waking up, which relates to the genre as humorous. A voice over is used as Kevin sits and thinks about what his family said bout him which he didn’t like , a close up identifies an opposite reaction of what a young boy would have if he was left at home as he seems very excited. The use of props, effects and lighting establish Kevin doing things at home that he was not allowed within the first scene. He gets scared after watching a film and screams for “MOM!!!”   , captures that he is only a child then related back to his mother as she feels as though she has forgotten her something; someone then realises her son and acts in a very thus rated way as any other mum would. This relates to Todrovs theory as this is where the problem begins. The two burglars are scene within the disequilibrium which makes the problem harder to fix.

The resolution takes place towards the end, as the main character Kevin the young child stops the burglars from breaking in to his house and is seen as a hero, whilst his mother and family are making their journey back to come home to him on Christmas day, again links with the genre family holiday.

The main characters relationship, Kevin with his family is which causes the disequilibrium as he argues with them.  His character seems very lively and seen as a typical child as he wants to be older than what he is and do things which he may not be suitable for yet. As the main character he plays an effect on the narrative, as he acts against the equilibrium causing the start of the disequilibrium, which id followed on by the resolution in the end finishing with a happy scene. In conclusion Todrovs theory can be used to explain the three stages of the family/comedy film Home alone as it relates to the genre itself.

by Jamie Hutton