Todorov's Equilibrium:
Todorov's theory is fairly self-explanatory. It discusses the general structure of most films. Equilibrium refers to the opening of the film- a typical status quo of affairs and sense of normalness. The status quo is then disrupted by some sort of narrative or contextaul event- breaking it into disequilibrium. This is normally the moment when the protagonist is at their most vulnerable in the film. To transition into a new form of equilibrium, the story must recognise this change in tone/atmosphere and attempt to repair it, in most films it is the protagnist beating the antagonist in some sort of fight. Finally there is Re-Equilibrium whereby there is a new sense of normalness in the films narrative. However, it is not the same as it was by the start of the film because the disruption still having some sort of impact on the films characters and setting.
In "VIRAGO", the state of Equilibrium is that of Edward's daily struggles after the loss of his wife, Elizabeth. Edward's status quo is that of going to church to pray, only to go back home and drink himself to sleep, making for a rather dark and depressive tone to open with. This Equilibrium is disrupted during this sleep by a nightmare of his wedding day wioth his wife Elizabeth. To help connnote this disruption of equilibrium, loud and hypnotic non-diegetic music plays in the background and there are cuts back and forth from Edward in the real-world and Edward in the dream world. In both states, he is uncomfortable and disturbed. The following shot (of Edward knocking the bottle of whiskey he was drinking from onto the floor and smashing it) transports the spectator into Disequilibrium. This narrativ state continues when he goes upstairs and is confronted with a vision of his dead wife covered in bandages. Edward recognises this disruption of Equilibrium now and attempts to find a new status quo. His solution, however, is that of suicide- to escape from the horror of his dissolving reality and be at peace. Hence, a re-equilibrium for him.
Barthe's Enigma Codes:
Barthes proposes that there are different kind of codes that can be found in a films narrative that add to the character development, context and story. They are the following:
Enigma Code (Hermeneutic Code)- Puzzles that appear in the story for the audience to investigate.
Action Code (Proairetic Code)- Sequential Elements that add to the story.
Semantic Code- Meaning in the film (both inferred and explicitely shown)
Symbolic Code- Symbolism in films (inferred and explicitely shown)
Cultural Code (Referential Code)- Anything in the film which refers to an external body of language (e.g a film shows the Big Ben = Set in London / a film uses drug dialect = refers to drug culture / character wears biker clothes = refers to Biker Culture or Mods vs. Rockers)
In "VIRAGO", Enigmatic Codes are used repeatedly to give the audience more information than at first percieved.
An example of some of these codes could be the film's title itself. "VIRAGO" refers to name of the model of the bike Edward rides in the film. If you look closely you can actually see the logo for the model of the bike in our opening title sequence when he sits on it for the first time. However, the audience do not realise the significance this has to Edward becasue Virago, as a term, actually means "a domineering, violent, or bad-tempered woman" (referring to Elizabeth his dead wife). This would come under as Semantic Code.
Shot from the film:
Another could be the costume Edward wears for the majority of the film. It is similar to that of traditional bikers (in a previous post, we have mentioned that it is similar to the costumes of Easy Rider and The Wild One). Therefore, you could say that his costuming is a referential code for biker culture or possibly even Mods vs. Rockers culture of the 1960's.
Costuming from The Wild One:
Costuming from "VIRAGO":
The sequence in "VIRAGO" where Edward slides his whiskey bottle off the tabel he was sleeping at onto the floor; smashing it, is an example of a symbolic code. The whiskey bottle symbolises Edward's alcoholism and how he is coping with the loss of his wife. The smashing of it is a way of telling the audience that he is at his lowest and his alcoholism is at his peak.
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