Synopsis

We have used the five step theory put forward by Todorov about narrative:

1. A state of equilibrium (new family move into a house)
2. A disruption of the equilibrium (ghost befriends the youngest daughter)
3. Recognition of the disruption (older sister becomes concerned about the girl)
4. Repair of the disruption (Family seek help for the girl)
5. Restoration of the early equilibrium (the ghost is exorcised and the family can live in the house)

A new family move into an old house built in the 14^th Century, it has been deserted for many years because there was a mysterious disappearance of the previous family to live there. Once the family have become settled, strange things begin happening concerning the youngest daughter, Millie, her older sister, Rosie, is the first to notice this strange behaviour. When Millie starts talking about a mysterious new friend named Bella, the family believe she is going through a phase of having an imaginary friend, but they couldn’t be more wrong!

Millie is the one to get the blame for these strange occurrences but only she knows that Bella is really behind it all. She becomes confused and can’t understand why her family think it is her fault. Millie finds out from Bella that she was a little girl at the time of the Bubonic Plague and lived in the house with her family, this is where the song ‘Ring around the Roses’ comes from, as it was what the children sang during the Plague. Bella died of the Plague, and has been trapped in the house ever since, and this is why she wants the family out. As Millie is the only person that can see Bella she uses this as a way to try and drive the family away.

Later on Rosie tells her mother that she thinks there is more behind Millie’s strange behaviour than childish games, and this is when the family seek outside help. The family go to a therapist to find out what is wrong with her, they are told that she just has an imaginary friend because of the family moving house and Millie unable to make new friends. But the family are still concerned about Millie and believe there is more to the situation. As a last hope they go to their local church and speak to a priest who suggests an exorcism of the house because he knows the history of the family that lived there during the Bubonic Plague.

The exorcism works and Bella doesn’t bother the family anymore, Millie is worried about Bella and upset that she has to leave but is reassured by Rosie that she will be much happier where she is and now they can also be happy in their new house now.

As well as Todorov, we have also considered Barthes’ Enigma Code, this is what the audience uses to try and guess the end of the narrative giving the audience more pleasure in watching, and in order to do this we have put some predictable elements in there such as the happy ending. Another theorist we have considered is Propp, although his theory is mostly associated with fairytale, we used the basic idea of characters;

· The Villain

· The Hero

· The Helper

BBFC

The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non-governmental body set up in 1912. Its purpose is to classify films released in the cinema among other things such as, DVDs (including programmes released on DVD), programmes distributed by downloading or streaming online and video games. They classify them by putting them in categories using guidelines; which category they are put in is determined by the content of the material. If a material is too unsuitable to be shown to the public it may be cut down or rejected.

When classifying a film the BBFC must consider the following guidelines:

· The material must not be in conflict with the law

· The material must not cause harm to the viewers; this includes not just harm caused by the behaviour of the viewer but also ‘Moral harm’. This could mean making a viewer less sensitive to violence, encouraging unhealthy fantasies, encouraging anti-social behaviour etc. This is especially taken to into consideration with children.

The BBFC also have to consider when classifying a film are the amount of criminal behaviour, illegal drugs, violent behaviour or incidents, horrific behaviour or incidents and human sexual activity. Once these factors have been measured they can then begin to look at the guidelines of the different certificates available which are:

· U – Suitable for all audiences, they must be suitable for ages 4 and under.

· PG – Parental Guidance

· 12A – Suitable for 12s and over although under 12s can watch it if accompanied by an adult

· 12 – 12 and over

· 15 – 15 and over

· 18 – suitable only for adults

The intended classification of our film if rated using the BBFC guidelines would be certificate 15. It would be this classification because it contains scenes of horror that would be considered unsuitable to be classified 12 or 12A, according to the guidelines. The film however isn’t scary enough to be classified 18, and by classifying it 15, we are reaching as wider audience as possible without going over the boundaries and guidelines set by the BBFC. Our film is also similar to other Supernatural thrillers under this certificate such as Dark Water, The Ring and Darkness.

Leanne James