Comparing Narration Styles: Casablanca, Daughters of the Dust, & Monsoon Wedding

Casablanca is a good example of the conventional narration in a movie. It introduces the situation in a formal manner, it introduces the characters in a methodical manner, and then it introduces the conflict very politely so that the audience will understand. There is a formula; introduction, conflict, climax, conflict resolution, conclusion.

However, not all movies follow this narrative style. Daughters of the Dust is one of them. Monsoon Wedding is another. These movies had unique narration styles, which, between the two of them, had similarities and differences.

They both told background stories of the family through a critical situation. Daughters of the Dust was more broad than Monsoon Wedding. In Daughters of the Dust, the situation wasn't even really decided upon the opening of the movie. The Peazant family had been discussing the matter of moving to the mainland, but a decision had not been absolutely made. In Monsoon Wedding, the parents had already chosen a husband for their daughter and arrangements had already been made. The preparation for the wedding and the wedding itself provided the insight into the family and the characters.

That brings me to another part of the storytelling and narration. It doesn't have to be an obvious panorama of the situation. It can be told through the characters. Also, a description of a character's conflict can contribute to the overall conflict of the film. In Daughters of the Dust, the voiceover of Eli and Eula's unborn daughter describes the emotional turmoil of much of the family.
In Monsoon Wedding, it is dialogue which unravels the story - dialogue and nuance. In both of these movies, the main conflict was not as important as the character development. The characters drove the story - not the other way around.