Narrative technique · used in 1 film

Faustian Bargain Structure

Building the story around a deal with the devil or a similar power, with a payment that comes due. The deadline turns each choice into a gamble.

Examples

Where you can see it

  1. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) poster

    The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

    Terry Gilliam · 2009

    Parnassus made a deal with Mr. Nick, a smooth stand-in for the Devil, and in three days his daughter Valentina turns 16 and belongs to him. Nick then offers a new wager: whoever wins five souls first keeps her. The deadline hangs over every show the troupe puts on.

    Where to see it: Mr. Nick's visits. He reminds Parnassus that Valentina's soul is due on her 16th birthday. After Tony is rescued from the bridge, he proposes the five-soul wager.

Questions

Quick answers

What is faustian bargain structure in film?
Building the story around a deal with the devil or a similar power, with a payment that comes due. The deadline turns each choice into a gamble.
Which films use faustian bargain structure?
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009).
What kind of technique is faustian bargain structure?
It is a narrative technique. Related narrative techniques include Staged Performance Within Film, Recast Role Within Story, Symbolic Object.

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