Happy Halloween.

Hollywood’s three-act structure is derived from classical dramatic structure. It involves a plot progression that involves an introduction, a complication, and a resolution. Unlike the original, Hollywood’s three-act structure shifts the climax towards the end of the film. One of my favorite films that follows this structure is La Misma Luna, or Under the Same Moon.

The introduction phase of the film is used to introduce the characters and help establish the foundation for the complication. In La Misma Luna, Rosario (the mother) is shown working in the United States to help support her son in Mexico. Carlitos (the son) is living with his elderly grandmother because she’s the only family he has. The first plot point that transitions to the complication is when Carlitos’s grandmother dies and he decides to make the journey to the United States illegally. This decision embarks him on his journey and introduces the situation for the complications in the next act.

The complication phase of the film is used for suspenseful decisions that eventually lead to the climax of the film, the protagonist’s major decision that ends the film. In this act, Carlitos makes it to the United States but loses his saved money as he crosses the border. After this he hitchhikes to the nearest city and begins working with illegal immigrants during the day. At this point, another important character is introduced – Enrique. When immigration officials raid one of the jobs, Carlitos follows Enrique to ensure his safety. Initially, Enrique dislikes the fact that Carlitos is following him but eventually accepts him and takes on a father-figure role. Their journey after this point chronicles their efforts to reach Las Angeles where Rosario is living. The final leg of their journey (reaching LA) is the second plot point and transitions into the climax, which happens about five minutes before the end of the film.

After failing to find Rosario, Enrique and Carlitos are stranded in a park where they are forced to spend the night. Enrique goes off to get breakfast for Carlitos and is subsequently forced to leave him alone on a park bench. As he returns to the park, the climax of the film begins. Police officers approach Carlitos in the park and in an effort to distract them, Enrique sacrifices himself by getting arrested in order for Carlitos to escape. This major decision in the plot demonstrates Enrique’s selflessness and the end of Carlitos’s journey. The shot of Carlitos running away transitions to the resolution of the film.

As he runs to the nearest street, Carlitos finds his mother waiting at an intersection. As professor Ramirez-Berg mentioned in lecture, after the climax of the film (in Hollywood cinema) the film is essentially over. When the two embrace in the street the film begins to role credits. The ending of the film reinforces one of the major aspects of Hollywood three-act cinema – triumphant stories.