In the realm of filmmaking, the concept of continuity is broader than you may think. Continuity also refers to maintaining a seamless flow of time, space, and action across the entire film, ensuring that the audience remains engaged and immersed in the story. However, there are moments when deliberately disrupting continuity can serve as a powerful storytelling tool.
This article explores the notion of discontinuity in film, specifically focusing on the use of flashbacks and flash-forwards. We will delve into the circumstances under which filmmakers opt to disrupt the longer version of a story’s continuity, the purpose behind these disruptions, and provide illustrative examples. Don’t forget to check out Lessons 5 and 7 in Art of Filmmaking – Intermediate course on EditMentor and refer to this help article for more guidance.
The Importance of Continuity
Continuity is the backbone of cinematic storytelling, establishing a sense of realism that keeps the audience invested in the unfolding story. Continuity provides a smooth progression of events, consistent visual cues, and logical character interactions. It. Without continuity, a film may feel disjointed and confuse viewers, hindering their ability to connect emotionally with the story.
Disrupting Continuity: When and Why
Filmmakers strategically disrupt continuity when they seek to evoke specific emotions, build suspense, provide backstory, or explore alternative perspectives by providing key information to the audience at a critical moment in the narrative. By utilizing discontinuity, they can manipulate time and narrative structure to create a more profound impact on the audience. Two prime examples of discontinuity are flashbacks and flash-forwards.
Flashbacks
A flashback transports the audience back in time, revealing events that occurred before the current narrative. Filmmakers use flashbacks to provide context, reveal character motivations, or shed light on unresolved mysteries. By temporarily interrupting the linear flow of the story, filmmakers create depth and complexity within characters and their relationships. A flashback can reveal new information to the audience or remind of them of information they may have forgotten.
Flash-forwards
A flash-forward propels the narrative forward in time, showing events that will happen in the future. This technique is often employed to generate anticipation, intrigue, or to explore potential outcomes which may or may not come true. Flash-forwards typically reveal a portion of the information the audience needs in order to follow the story without revealing everything so as to give away the plot. Flash-forwards allow filmmakers to foreshadow events or juxtapose present and future scenarios for thematic impact.
Achieving Narrative Depth
Discontinuity added throughout a film’s narrative, as demonstrated by flashbacks and flash-forwards, add layers of complexity to the storytelling. It can evoke a sense of nostalgia, surprise, or anticipation, keeping the audience engaged and eager to follow the unfolding events. By disrupting continuity, filmmakers can delve deeper into character motivations, explore the consequences of actions, and challenge conventional narrative structures.
Conclusion
While continuity serves as the foundation of cinematic storytelling, filmmakers often choose to disrupt it strategically through techniques like flashbacks and flash-forwards. These deliberate disruptions can elevate a film’s narrative depth, evoke emotions, and provide a fresh perspective on the story. By using flashbacks to revisit the past and flash-forwards to glimpse into the future, filmmakers can captivate their audience and craft a cinematic experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
