Oral Presentation part 4

Use the guiding questions below to focus your attention on the narrative structure of your film.
Please make sure to choose your 5 minute extract when you approach this section.
KEY Details to include:
1. What was you rationale for choosing this selection?
2. How does the extract relate to the film as a whole?
3. How is this film constructed according to narrative/story being told?
4. Is the narrative organized by plot or time sequence,character driven vs. plot driven?
5. Does the film use other principles than narrative sequence as a structure (for instance, an argument?
6.What is the nature of our engagement with the story or characters?
Analysis to include: character, plot, setting, theme, style, genre, narrator etc...
Use the link and chart on narrative to help organize your thoughts:


1. I chose the last battle scene of this film, which is the battle on the bridge of Ramelle, over the Merderet river. I chose this because this being the climax of the film, also serves as the resolution, where all conflicts and themes pull themselves together to lead toward the ending.

2. Being the climax or resolution of the film, this scene relates to the film as a whole by tying together all the underlying themes of the film. One theme highlighting the importance of an individual in war or situations like it. We see where Miller’s efforts led the team in finding Pvt. Ryan, and the significance he has in representing all individuals of this era. Although the movie focuses on saving this man, Spielberg doesn’t stop short of making every individual important within the movie. He even goes to highlight one of the men on the German side, that being “Steamboat Willie”. Showing how he comes back to fight for the Wehrmacht in this scene, after being released by Miller’s squad before, shows how he only serves his country and is only an individual wanting to do his task to survive.

3. This film is told through a standard 3-act narrative structure. Although the opening scene seems to be very climactic in terms of pace and action, this scene only helps set the problem in motion, as we see both of Private Ryan’s brother being KIA. The conflict begins when Miller gets the memo that his squad has been given the task of finding Pvt. Ryan, highlighting the obstacles they overcome.

4. The narratives are organized by plot, for the events connect to each other. Considering the film is a large search for one soldier, the squad goes about searching each station, getting tips and clues from the last station leading to the next, getting them closer to Ryan. One could argue that this film is more plot driven rather than character driven; however I believe this film is character driven when we juxtapose soldiers Upham, Rieben, Miller, and Ryan. They all (except Miller) survive and we see an evident change in character in all of them. Ryan understands his purpose for fighting, and serving his country. Miller understands the value of individuality when he’s seen his other troop members die before him. Rieben also understands why staying on the mission was worth risking their lives, for everyone deserves a chance to go home. Upham helps Spielberg highlight the brutality of war, from when we see him sobbing on the stairs to killing Steamboat Willie at the end of the battle of Rammel.

5. Although our narrative is mainly character driven, it doesn’t always go down the expected path. For example, an argument arouses during an evident change in Rieben. He begins to contemplate whether the loss of lives is worth saving one private. This causes an internal conflict within all the characters. When pushed this far, we can see the evident brutality that war places on the individual.

6. The nature of our engagement is that we learn to honor each man as a loyal and courageous to the extent that we don’t see them as normal humans anymore. They are heroes, servants of war, and the greatest human beings known to man. They all have the traits of a perfect role model and we look up to them, but as their deaths come one by one, the connection that we thought we had to them had been lost. These noble heroes are just another casualty of war, which leads us to realize the impact that war has on the individuals.