In the Loop: Film Analysis
EXPOSITORY PHASE
1. Where is the story set? This may include several different locations.
In London (United Kingdom) and Washington, D.C (America)
2. What is the time period?
The movie itself is not set in a mentioned time period, but instead focuses on a hypothetical time period where the UK and the U.S are both on the verge of possibly launching a war in the Middle East. However, the film’s plot is a satirical version of the events surrounding the lead up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
3. Who is the protagonist and what is he or she like?
The protagonist is the British Secretary of State for International Development, Simon Foster. He is not as foul mouthed as the Director of Communications for the Prime Minister, Malcolm Tucker, who is portrayed as the antagonist. Foster is depicted as not being caring about his constituents or their minor problems. Throughout the movie, he first starts the whole conflict, and then the audience is led to like him because he’s nice and does not want to start war without hard evidence. However, as the film progresses, he increasingly gets presented as a bumbling politician who is unsure of himself and is not able to make a difference.
4. What is the conflict that is driving the protagonist to act?
The conflict starts due to the protagonist’s slip of words. Foster states off the cuff in a radio interview that ‘war is unforeseeable’. He later makes the situation worse by saying that ‘to walk the road of peace, sometimes we need to be ready to climb the mountain of conflict’. As a UK politician, he is supposed to remain neutral regarding the war the potential war in the Middle East. Due to his slip ups, he and his aide, Toby become pawns in an international political game.
5. What is the back story (subplot)?
The story revolves on a potential war in the Middle East and the different motives of all the politicians involved. The British Prime Minister and US President fancy a war along with chief
1. Where is the story set? This may include several different locations.
In London (United Kingdom) and Washington, D.C (America)
2. What is the time period?
The movie itself is not set in a mentioned time period, but instead focuses on a hypothetical time period where the UK and the U.S are both on the verge of possibly launching a war in the Middle East. However, the film’s plot is a satirical version of the events surrounding the lead up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
3. Who is the protagonist and what is he or she like?
The protagonist is the British Secretary of State for International Development, Simon Foster. He is not as foul mouthed as the Director of Communications for the Prime Minister, Malcolm Tucker, who is portrayed as the antagonist. Foster is depicted as not being caring about his constituents or their minor problems. Throughout the movie, he first starts the whole conflict, and then the audience is led to like him because he’s nice and does not want to start war without hard evidence. However, as the film progresses, he increasingly gets presented as a bumbling politician who is unsure of himself and is not able to make a difference.
4. What is the conflict that is driving the protagonist to act?
The conflict starts due to the protagonist’s slip of words. Foster states off the cuff in a radio interview that ‘war is unforeseeable’. He later makes the situation worse by saying that ‘to walk the road of peace, sometimes we need to be ready to climb the mountain of conflict’. As a UK politician, he is supposed to remain neutral regarding the war the potential war in the Middle East. Due to his slip ups, he and his aide, Toby become pawns in an international political game.
5. What is the back story (subplot)?
The story revolves on a potential war in the Middle East and the different motives of all the politicians involved. The British Prime Minister and US President fancy a war along with chief