: 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.
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). Narration in the Fiction Film
: Associated with early Soviet cinema, focusing on collective action and ideological messaging rather than individual psychology. : Modern theory, particularly that of David Bordwell,
: Using flashbacks or non-linear structures to create curiosity or suspense. : Associated with early Soviet cinema, focusing on