Film Language Tag: narrator
A character or other person whose voice and perspective describe the action of a film, either in voiceover or through a particular point of view. At Kinolab, we use this term to signal when a story is rooted in a specific character or other person, whether through voiceover narration or other such means.
10086 Sunset Boulevard , Sunset Boulevard
After giving the repo-men the slip, Joe (William Holden) stumbles upon old Hollywood actress Norma Desmond's (Gloria Swanson) mansion.
A Son, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Lisa (Joan Fontaine) gives birth to a son whom she gives his father's name, Stefan (Louis Brand).
Apartment Music, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Lisa Berndle (Joan Fontaine) quietly admires Stefan (Louis Jourdan), eventually sneaking into his apartment.
Chantal's Letter, Diary of a Country Priest
Chantal (Nicole Ladmiral) visits the priest (Claude Laydu) with a suicide note, furious over her father's (Jean Riveyre) affair with her governess (Nicole Maurey).
Closing Scene, Ready Player One
The High Five team inherit Halliday's stocks in Gregarious Games and get ownership of the OASIS.
Closing Sequence, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Stefan (Louis Jourdan) finishes reading Lisa's (Joan Fontaine) letter, learning that both she and their son (Leo B Pessin) have died of typhus, and decides to engage in his duel with Johann (Marcel Journet).
Closing Sequence , Cotton Comes to Harlem
Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) and Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) work out a deal with mob boss Tom (Leonardo Cimino) for the missing $87,000.
Closing Sequence , Devil in a Blue Dress
Daphne (Jennifer Beals) says goodbye to her lover, mayoral candidate Todd Carter (Terry Kinney), and Easy (Denzel Washington) clears his name with the police.
Closing Sequence, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) recalls the last time she saw Heloise (Adèle Haenel).
Closing Sequence, Men, Women & Children
The narrator’s (Emma Thompson) reflections on humanity are juxtaposed with the lives of each of the families.
Closing Sequence, Sunset Boulevard
During their fight, Norma (Gloria Swanson) shoots Joe (William Holden).
CT questions God, Bright Road
CT (Philip Hepburn) questions Ms.Richards (Dorothy Dandridge) about God and race at Sunday School in front of the class.
Dear Suzy, Moonrise Kingdom
Shakusky and Suzy become pen pals. They get to know each other and develop their rendezvous plan as they write each other letters.
DeMille's Set, Sunset Boulevard
Joe (William Holden) and Max (Erich von Stroheim) accompany Norma (Gloria Swanson) to Paramount Pictures to see what Cecil DeMille (himself) has to say about the script.
Dreaming of Running, Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne (Noémie Merlant) and Heloise (Adèle Haenel) meet and go for their first walk.
Face Up to It, Diary of a Country Priest
The priest (Claude Laydu) visits Dr. Delbende (Antoine Balpêtré) for his ailing stomach.
Fausto's Triumphant Return from his Honeymoon, I Vitelloni
Fausto (Franco Fabrizi) returns home from his honeymoon with Sandra (Leonora Ruffo) and dances with the vitelloni at their reunion.
Forgotten Star, Sunset Boulevard
Joe (William Holden) and Norma (Gloria Swanson) watch one of Norma's old films.
Free France, Casablanca
A French resistance fighter carrying visas and papers is chased and shot.
Hill X, The Exiles
Homer (Homer Nish) arrives at Hill X, a hangout spot overlooking downtown Los Angeles.
I Didn't Mean to Hurt Anybody, Devil in a Blue Dress
Easy (Denzel Washington) finds Daphne (Jennifer Beals) waiting at his house and learns of her heritage.
I Don't Understand, Ulysses' Gaze
A (Harvey Keitel) and Kali (Maia Morgenstern) are escorted off the train at the Bulgarian border.
I Know What It Is To Forget, Hiroshima Mon Amour
A woman (Emmanuelle Riva) and a man (Eiji Okada) discuss modern Hiroshima.
I Want You to Hit Me, Fight Club
Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) encourages The Narrator (Edward Norton) to stay over at his place. Once that's settled he asks him to hit him. The Narrator then gives us a backstory for Durden. It flashes back to the present and The Narrator hits Durden, starting the first fight of the movie and the beginning of fight club.
Is This Sarajevo?, Ulysses' Gaze
A (Harvey Keitel) arrives to a besieged Sarajevo.
Joe's First Night, Sunset Boulevard
Joe (William Holden) spends the night at Norma's (Gloria Swanson) and wakes up to all his belongings in the guest room.
Layman's Language, Chan Is Missing
Jo (Wood Moy) and Steve (Marc Hayashi) meet a lawyer (Judi Nihei) who is representing Chan and is also looking for him.
Linz, Letter from an Unknown Woman
In Linz, Lisa's (Joan Fontaine) parents arrange for her to meet Lt. von Kaltnegger (John Good), who proposes to her.
Moonlighting , Sunset Boulevard
While Norma (Gloria Swanson) undergoes an intense makeover for her "comeback," Joe (William Holden) sneaks out at night to write a script with Betty (Nancy Olson).
Motorcycle Ride, Diary of a Country Priest
The priest (Claude Laydu) is offered a motorcycle ride from a young man (Jean Danet) to catch his train out of Ambricourt.
New Year's at Norma's, Sunset Boulevard
Joe (William Holden) attends Norma's (Gloria Swanson) lavish New Year's Eve "party."
Not My Friend, Intruder in the Dust
Chick Mallison (Claude Jarman Jr.) recounts to his uncle John Stevens (David Brian) how he first met Lucas Beauchamp (Juano Hernandez).
Nothing Left, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Lisa (Joan Fontaine) leaves her mother (Mady Christmas) at the train station to go back to the apartment and see Stefan (Louis Jourdan) once more before leaving for Linz.
Noticed, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Now working as a dress model in Vienna, Lisa (Joan Fontaine) is noticed by Stefan (Louis Jourdan)
Opening Scene, Cheyenne Autumn
The opening sequence of the film, narrated by James Stewart, depicts life on the Cheyenne reservation in 1964.
Opening Sequence, Diary of a Country Priest
The new priest of Ambricourt (Claude Laydu) writes in his diary.
Opening Sequence, Ulysses' Gaze
An old assistant (Thanos Grammenos) to the Manaki brothers tells A (Harvey Keitel) about a three lost film reels.
Opening Sequence, Singin' in the Rain
Don (Gene Kelly), Lina (Jean Hagen), and Cosmo (Donald O'Connor) arrive at the premiere for their newest film. Per the interviewer's (Madge Blake) request, Don recounts his and Cosmo's journey in Hollywood.
Opening Sequence, Hiroshima Mon Amour
A woman (Emmanuelle Riva) and a man (Eiji Okada) discuss the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Opening Sequence, Sunset Boulevard
Joe Gillis (William Holden) begins the story of his demise.
Opening Sequence, The Seventh Seal
After returning from the Crusades, Antonious Block (Max von Sydow) begins a game of chess with Death (Bengt Ekerot).
Opening Sequence, Men, Women & Children
Donald Truby (Adam Sandler) watches online pornography on his son’s computer.
Opening Sequence, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Concert pianist Stefan Brand (Louis Jourdan) enlists his mute butler John (Art Smith) in helping him evade a duel, and sits down to read a letter from an unknown woman (Joan Fontaine).
Opening Sequence, Alphaville
Secret agent Lemmy Caution (Eddie Constantine) arrives at the futuristic city of Alphaville.
Opening Sequence, Devil in a Blue Dress
Laid off from the factory, Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins (Denzel Washington) is introduced by his friend Joppy (Mel Winkler) to DeWitt Albright (Tom Sizemore), who offers him a job.
Sam Cooke's Boston Performance, One Night in Miami...
Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Anir) recounts the story of Sam Cooke's (Leslie Odom Jr.) performance for an angry crowd in Boston.
Séraphita, Diary of a Country Priest
The priest (Claude Laydu) faints on the road and is woken up by Sérephita (Martine Lemaire), one of his troublesome catechism students.
Sergeant Rutledge Saves the Cavalry, Sergeant Rutledge
Sergeant Rutledge (Woody Strode) gives his testimony to the court about what happened during the ambush.
The Fog, Ulysses' Gaze
The denizens of Sarajevo rejoice in the fog. A (Harvey Keitel) dances with Naomi (Maia Morgenstern), Ivo's daughter.
The Letter, Devil in a Blue Dress
Easy (Denzel Washington) and Mouse (Don Cheadle) visit Coretta's boyfriend Dupree Brouchard (Jernard Burks) in Compton where they find an incriminating letter.
The Missing Goddess, Letter from an Unknown Woman
Lisa (Joan Fontaine) visits Stefan (Louis Jourdan) at his apartment, and leaves when she realizes he doesn't recognize her.
The Next Mayor, Devil in a Blue Dress
Released from jail, Easy (Denzel Washington) is picked up and questioned by mayoral candidate Matthew Terell (Maury Chaykin).
The One on the Edge of Your Memory, Letter from an Unknown Woman
May years later, Lisa (Joan Fontaine), now married to Johann (Marcel Journet), runs into Stefan (Louis Jourdan) at the opera.
The Priest of Torcy, Diary of a Country Priest
The priest (Claude Laydu) talk with his mentor the priest of Torcy (Adrien Borel) on his faith, the death of the Countess (Rachel Bérendt), and his operation of the parish.
The Ruse Revealed, Vertigo
Judy (Kim Novak) writes a letter to Scottie (James Stewart) explaining her con as Madeleine, but rips it up instead of leaving it for him.
The Truth Comes Out, Sunset Boulevard
After finding out about Joe's (William Holden) sneaking around, Norma (Gloria Swanson) calls Betty (Nancy Olson) and taunts her.
The Truth, Nothing More, Intruder in the Dust
Lucas (Juano Hernandez) recounts to Chick (Claude Jarman Jr.) and Stevens (David Brian) his encounters with the Gowrie brothers.
To Fort Lebanon, Moonrise Kingdom
The narrator gives a weather report on the upcoming storm as the Khaki Scouts row Suzy and Shakusky to Fort Lebanon.
To Germany, Landscape in the Mist
After saying goodbye to their friend Seagull (Ilias Logothetis), Voula (Tania Palaiologou) and Alexandros (Michalis Zeke) finally sneak onto a Germany-bound train.
To Pray, To Hate, Diary of a Country Priest
The priest (Claude Laydu) visits the Countess (Rachel Bérendt) and helps her come to terms with the death of her son and reconcile with God.
Urban Diagnosis, Diary of a Country Priest
The priest (Claude Laydu) arrives in the city and is diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Wade Explains the OASIS, Ready Player One
Wade, in voiceover, explains how the virtual world of the OASIS works.
Who is Keyser Soze, The Usual Suspects
Verbal (Kevin Spacey) tells the tale of Keyser Soze.
Yvonne's Walk, The Exiles
Yvonne (Yvonne Williams) walks around the city, thinking about her relationship with Homer (Homer Nish) and life away from the reservation.
