3 Act Storytelling for Iwai Shunji's Picnic

[Gina R]

Picnic- Iwai Shunji

Act 1

The Hook
In the beginning scene of the film, a car runs over the roses on the ground. Arriving at a mental asylum, Coco, screaming, is dragged out of the car by the orderlies and into a ward.

The Complication
Coco has problems adjusting to her new environment. The nurse throws away all of Coco’s possessions and orders her to change into a white uniform instead of her black outfit. The nurse tries to take away Coco’s black feather cape (which is her favorite), but Coco fights with the nurse and manages to keep her cape.

The Call to Action
Coco slowly adjusts to the asylum. She wears the white uniform and carries her black cape with her, and receives art therapy with the rest of the patients. Satoru and Tsumuji, both male patients, take interest in her.

Plot Point
Coco paints her asylum uniform black, and appears in front of Tsumuji and Satoru, who cannot go past the asylum walls in fear of being punished. Coco says it will be okay as long as they walk on the walls, and the three venture the outside world.


Act 2, pt.1

Extra ordinary world
Coco, Satoru, and Tsumuji arrive at a church wall, and a priest gives them a bible. When the three come back to the asylum, they are punished for going outside, but they promise to go out again.

Mid point
Later, they read the bible together and misinterpret a part of it, thinking that the end of the world is near. Tsumuji says by reading the bible, he came to believe in god. He believes that his sins will be cleansed at the end of the world and he will go to heaven. Coco says the world started when she was born and will end when she dies. The three set off on a picnic to watch the Armageddon.


Act 2, pt.2

Low point
It rains on Tsumuji and Coco, and Tsumuji is reminded of a trauma caused by his elementary school teacher who tormented him.


Act 3

Recovery
Coco and Tsumuji confess their sins to each other in the rain. They feel closer to each other and fall in love. They come down from the wall.

Showdown
The couple arrives at the sea. They eat their invisible sandwiches and wait for the world to end. Sick of waiting, Tsumuji fires a pistol at the sun, hoping it to explode and end to world. But nothing happens. Coco takes the pistol and says she will erase Tsumuji’s sins by ending the world. She then shoots herself in the head. Holding Coco, Tsumuji tries to shoot the sun.

Growth of the Hero
This film does not have this part.