Gladiator

Gladiator

The film “Gladiator” is not only a graphic depiction of the Roman Empire but a tremendous example of how films use formal expectations and motifs to tell a compelling tale. I will analyze how the film follows the ABA in both the small and large scale of things. I will also give some details as to how the film uses recurring images to manipulate the viewer’s emotions, which is why the ending of the film works so well.
Many films use the ABA form to tell a tale about a person who must leave home (A), then tries to get back home but is faced with many obstacles (B), then finally returns home in the end (A). We enjoy these films because our formal expectation that the person will eventually get home is met and we are satisfied. “Gladiator” follows this basic pattern but in an unconventional way.
First our main character, Maximus, must be forced to leave home. Although we do not actually see this in the film, we come to the understanding that he h...