: Where style becomes the dominant factor, often repeating stylistic patterns for their own sake rather than to advance the story (e.g., the works of Jean-Luc Godard). Functions of Explicit Narrators
: Accessing a character's inner thoughts through voice-overs or POV shots. Modes of Cinematic Narration Narration in the Fiction Film
: Modern theory, particularly that of David Bordwell, argues that spectators are not passive "victims" of a story but active participants who use "schemata" (mental frameworks) to test hypotheses and draw inferences about the plot. : Where style becomes the dominant factor, often
: Often prioritizes character interiority and ambiguity over a clear plot, using fragmented structures to reflect complex psychological states. : Often prioritizes character interiority and ambiguity over
While the film itself "narrates" through its form, explicit narrators (voice-overs) serve specific roles: What is Classical Hollywood Narration?
Narration in fiction film is not merely the presence of a "voice-over" but the broader process of selecting, arranging, and ordering story material to achieve specific effects on the viewer. Unlike literature, which relies on a literal "teller," filmic narration is a systematic interplay between (the specific patterning of events) and style (the use of cinematic techniques like lighting, camera movement, and editing).