The three act structure is a familiar narrative setup in Hollywood. It starts with an introduction of the characters and setting, has someone go through a conflict through most of the movie, and ends with a resolution to the conflict. The film I will be using as an example is "Mamma Mia!".
The film starts with 20 year old Sophie Sheridan who is about to get married when she finds her mother Donna's old diary which reveals three men who could possibly be her father. Wanting a father to give her away at the wedding, she decides to invite the men to the ceremony in hopes she can find out who her father is. This sets the storyline within the first five minutes of the movie with the question of which man is Sophie;s father.
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| Who's the father? Harry? Bill? Sam? |
A problem arises after the men arrive. Sophie doesn't really resemble any of them, and after a lot of questioning and musical numbers, it is revealed that Sophie's mother never told her who her father is because neither she nor any of the men are sure who her father is. Without answers, Sophie is unsure of what to do since she knows her mother isn't pleased with having three ex-boyfriends secretly invited to the wedding behind her back. With each man thinking he's her father and planning to give her away at her wedding, Sophie becomes distraught with the problem she has caused, and wonders what to do next.
The resolution comes in the last 30 minutes of the film. The wedding finally happens and everyone gathers in the church. Sophie's plan is revealed to everyone, with her mother finally telling Sophie why she never told her about her father. Sophie forgives her, while Harry, Bill, and Sam tell Sophie that they all consider her their daughter despite the circumstances of not knowing for sure. A twist comes when Sophie decides to postpone getting married, Sam proposes to Donna, and Bill and Harry find new partners. Everyone finds a happy ending and the film ends.
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