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Storytelling Story structure, screenwriting craft and the devices that drive a plot.

Resolution: Meaning & Definition in Film

The resolution is the conclusion of the story where the central conflict is settled and the primary dramatic question is answered.

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The Conclusion of the Conflict

The resolution is the final outcome of the story’s central plot. It is the point where the main conflict, which was introduced by the inciting incident and developed throughout the rising action, is definitively settled. The resolution directly follows the climax and the falling action, providing a final answer to the film’s main dramatic question.

The term “resolution” is often used interchangeably with “denouement,” but they have slightly different nuances. The resolution specifically refers to the solving of the primary plot. It is the direct consequence of the protagonist’s actions in the climax. If the story is a murder mystery, the resolution is the moment the killer is unmasked and caught. If it’s a romance, it’s the moment the couple finally ends up together. If it’s a disaster movie, it’s the point where the disaster is averted and the survivors are safe.

Function and Importance

A satisfying resolution is essential for providing the audience with a sense of closure. It should feel earned and be a logical consequence of the events of the story. The resolution validates the protagonist’s journey and demonstrates the growth they have undergone.

  • Answering the Dramatic Question: Did the protagonist achieve their goal? The resolution must provide a clear yes or no.
  • Demonstrating Change: The outcome often reflects the protagonist’s inner transformation. Their success or failure is a result of how they have changed over the course of the story.
  • Providing Catharsis: A strong resolution delivers a sense of emotional release, or catharsis, for the audience, who has been invested in the protagonist’s struggle.

Resolution: Examples

  • In The Shawshank Redemption, the resolution is Andy Dufresne successfully escaping from prison and exposing the warden’s corruption, culminating in his reunion with Red on a beach in Mexico.
  • In Back to the Future, the resolution is Marty successfully returning to 1985, having ensured his parents fell in love and finding his family’s life has been improved by his actions in the past.
  • In Schindler’s List, the resolution is the end of the war and the survival of the “Schindler Jews,” who honor Oskar Schindler for his actions.

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More Storytelling & Screenwriting Terms

Entries filed on the same shelf as Resolution, each with the one-line answer first. They are the words that usually come up in the same conversation.

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    A courtroom drama is a film genre where the justice system itself is a primary character, with the narrative centered on a legal trial or hearing.

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    Cutting on action is an editing technique where the cut occurs as a subject is in motion, creating seamless continuity between shots.

  • Prologue

    A prefatory narrative section that provides essential context before the main story begins.