The SuburbsTodorovian Structure

ACT 1

Act 1 begins with the characters on their bikes, riding through the suburbs. This sets up the story and characters (the equilibrium)

Act 1 ends with the couple under the bridge.

ACT 2Act 2 begins with more proaretic shots, further establishing childhood and innocence. However, it opens with a scene of the kids play fighting, which forebodes later events. This could be argued to be the disequilibrium of the second act.

The second act ends when the chorus plays, as the characters ride past the police. Again, this could be argued to be the true disequilibrium – however it is unusual for a disequilibrium to be at the end of an act rather than at the beginning.

ACT 3Act 3 starts as the lighting in the film becomes darker – we shift into the third act at the same time the night falls. Act 3 builds up even more anticipation, culminating in the climax and closure.

Act 3 ends as the music stops, providing our new equilibrium of the end of innocence.

There is a very small epilogue in which sirens can be heard as the camera pans over a morning sky.