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Complete |
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Signposts Only |
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Major Characters |
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Partial |
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Author: |
Robert Rodriguez | |
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Source Material: Film | |
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Genre: |
Action Drama | |
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Setting: |
Mexico | |
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Period: |
Contemporary | |
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Analysis by: |
Katharine E. Monahan Huntley |
Comments:
"El Mariachi" is a good example of well defined Domains. The Objective Story Throughline occurs in Physics, a battle between two rival outlaws. The Subjective Story Throughline is Psychology, the assumptions the Obstacle Character (Moco) makes about the Main Character (El Mariachi), and how these assumptions force the Main Character's way of thinking to change. The Main Character Throughline is Universe, the predicament El Mariachi finds himself in, and the Obstacle Character Throughline is Mind, the fixed attitudes Moco holds onto that prove to be his undoing. As a point of interest: the Main and Obstacle Character do not meet until the last act. Their impact on each other, however, is felt throughout the Subjective Story.
Story Points are illustrated in a manner that is brief and to the point. The Cast List consists of the four primary Objective Characters, with brief character descriptions.
Brief Synopsis:
A young mariachi drifts into a Mexican town hoping to obtain a gig, but instead finds himself caught up in a case of mistaken identity by two rival outlaws.
Name: El Mariachi
ID: Main Character
Gender: Male
Description:
Handsome, young, romantic; in search of love and luck
Role: Musician
Character Type: Protagonist
Characteristics:
Methodology: Reaction
Evaluation: Trust
Purpose: Ability
Name: Moco
ID: Impact Character
Gender: Male
Description:
Cold, greedy, suave
Role: The outlaw who
rules the town.
Characteristics:
Motivation: Logic; Pursuit; Control
Methodology: Inaction
Name: Azul
Gender: Male
Description:
Brutal, not as smart as Moco
Role: Outlaw rival
of Moco's
Characteristics:
Motivation: Temptation; Hinder; Oppose
Methodology: Proaction
Name: Domino
Gender: Female
Description:
Beautiful, intelligent, her own woman
Role: Love Interest
Characteristics:
Motivation: Conscience; Support; Help
Methodology: Protection
Evaluation: Test
Purpose: Desire
Nature as it relates to Apparent Dilemma:
It is not necessary for El Mariachi to gun down Moco, after Moco has told him he is free to go.
Essence as it relates to Negative Feel:
The objective characters are forced to expend more time and energy avoiding death, than putting their efforts into what they are trying to obtain.
Tendency as it relates to Willing:
El Mariachi is willing to do what is necessary to save his skin, including shooting in self-defense when chased by Moco's men.
Reach as it relates to Both:
Women and men can empathize with a situation of mistaken identity.
Main Character Resolve as it relates to Change:
El Mariachi changes from a soft-spoken musician in search of love and luck, to a cold blooded killer, gunning down Moco for revenge.
Impact Character Resolve as it relates to Steadfast:
Main Character Growth as it relates to Stop:
El Mariachi must stop living in a dream world and prepare to face the harsh realities of a drifter' s existence:
"All I wanted was to be a mariachi like my ancestors. But the city I thought would bring me luck, brought only a curse. I lost my guitar, my hand, and her. With this injury I may never play the guitar again. Without her, I have no love. But with the dog, and the weapons, I'm prepared for the future." (Rodriguez, 1993)
Main Character Approach as it relates to Do-er:
El Mariachi travels from town to town soliciting work as a mariachi; when pursued, he is not afraid to fight back; when he finds out Domino is looking for him at Moco's ranch, he goes after her at risk to himself.
Main Character Problem-Solving Style as it relates to Logical:
El Mariachi understands his problem of being pursued is caused by a case of mistaken identity.
Story Driver as it relates to Action:
Moco's failed knock-off attempt of Azul, and Azul's subsequent escape from jail, renews the hatred between the two men and begins a war that El Mariachi finds himself unwittingly caught up in.
Story Limit as it relates to Optionlock:
After Moco shoots off El Mariachi's guitar playing hand, takes the life of Domino, then commits the ultimate insult of laughing at him, El Mariachi feels he has no choice but to kill him.
Story Outcome as it relates to Failure:
All the primary objective characters die, except for El Mariachi, whose outlook on life is irrevocably changed for the worse.
Story Judgment as it relates to Good:
El Mariachi matures into a man prepared for all eventualities.
Overall Story Name: "A Case of Mistaken Identity"
Throughline Synopsis:
A young mariachi drifts into a Mexican town hoping to obtain a gig, but instead finds himself caught up in a case of mistaken identity by two rival outlaws.
Backstory:
Throughline as it relates to Activity:
Moco and Azul wage their war, and in a case of mistaken identity, El Mariachi is inadvertently a part of it.
Concern as it relates to Obtaining:
Moco wants to obtain full control of the town, in order for this to happen, he must eliminate Azul; Azul wants to obtain the cut he feels he deserves from a prior criminal activity with Moco; El Mariachi wants to obtain a position as a mariachi; Domino is interested in having a relationship with El Mariachi (and visa versa).
Issue as it relates to Self Interest :
There is no morality in a town ruled by the tyrannical Moco; in his quest to recover his share of the money, Azul has no qualms about killing men who get in his way, or, allowing El Mariachi to die in his place; and so forth.
Counterpoint as it relates to Morality :
Thematic Conflict as it relates to Self Interest vs. Morality:
Problem as it relates to Pursuit:
Moco pursues Domino's affections to no avail; Azul's pursuit of his share of the cash puts his life (and El Mariachi's) in danger and ultimately results in his own death; it is dangerous for El Mariachi to seek out Domino at Moco's ranch.
Solution as it relates to Avoidance:
If Moco had left his feelings for Domino well enough alone, and accepted her romance with El Mariachi, they would still be alive; if Domino had avoided Moco, El Mariachi would not have had to follow her, putting his life in more danger; if, after escaping jail, Azul had ignored his greed and avoided Moco altogether, he would still be alive; and so forth.
Symptom as it relates to Control:
Moco is focused on controlling the town, as an example of this, he orders his men to kill Azul, resulting in their own deaths and depleting his ranks; Domino would like to be in full control of the bar she owns, free of any obligation to Moco; and so forth.
Response as it relates to Uncontrolled:
Bandits shoot up the town; El Mariachi cannot control the men who after him; Azul cannot control his own men, who he is counting on to protect him; as Moco is the only person to know what Azul looks like, and he is removed from the action, he has no control over his men pursuing the wrong man in black; and so forth.
Catalyst as it relates to Approach:
Azul's straightforward approach to seek Moco out moves the objective story forward.
Inhibitor as it relates to Obligation:
Both Moco and Azul's bandits' failure to follow through in their obligations to their respective bosses impedes the objective story's progress. As an illustration, when Azul's men see that he is captured by Moco's thugs, they run.
Benchmark as it relates to Doing:
As Moco's men determine there is more than one man dressed in black, they must conduct an identification process to find the right man.
Goal as it relates to Obtaining:
The goal of common concern to the objective characters is Moco's control of the town. To maintain this control, Azul, the man dressed in black, must be eliminated. Moco, his bandits, and the townspeople who are under Moco's thumb are for it; El Mariachi, who is mistaken for Azul, and Domino who fears for the musician, are against it (at least until the case of mistaken identity is cleared up); Azul and his bandits and women are also against it. Moco loses control of the town once he is killed by El Mariachi, resulting in the story's failure.
Consequence as it relates to Changing One's Nature:
Death is the result of failing to achieve the goal.
Cost as it relates to Innermost Desires:
Fear is the cost incurred while trying to achieve the goal-the townspeople live in fear of Moco and his men; Moco's men fear his wrath when they botch up his orders; Azul's men fear his anger; El Mariachi and Domino fear he will be killed by mistake.
Dividend as it relates to The Future:
Azul escapes prison and believes he will soon obtain his fair share of the loot; El Mariachi and Domino enjoy a romance than could mean a future for them; El Mariachi enjoys the applause of the audience, signaling they would like to hear more of his music in the future; Moco sends gifts to Domino in hopes of a future relationship; and so forth.
Requirements as it relates to Doing:
Moco's men must track down the man in black.
Prerequisites as it relates to Playing a Role:
Moco's men must be killers.
Preconditions as it relates to Impulsive Responses:
Moco's men must be in a constant state of readiness, their reflexes ready to kill or to exercise restraint.
Forewarnings as it relates to How Things are Changing:
The growing body count is a forewarning of the story's consequences.
Main vs. Impact Story Name: "Blue Eyes vs. Soul Man"
Throughline Synopsis:
Moco and El Mariachi come into conflict over their love for Domino.
Backstory:
Throughline as it relates to Manipulation:
Moco doesn't think El Mariachi is macho enough to retaliate against him, but after suffering pursuit, the death of his love, his hand shot off, and Moco's ridicule, El Mariachi's way of thinking has changed.
Concern as it relates to Changing One's Nature:
Moco is angry when he realizes El Mariachi has become Domino's lover.
Issue as it relates to Commitment :
Moco is committed to remaining a bad guy to the point of killing the woman he loves; El Mariachi feels it is his responsibility to avenge Domino's death by wasting Moco.
Counterpoint as it relates to Responsibility :
Thematic Conflict as it relates to Commitment vs. Responsibility:
Problem as it relates to Pursuit:
El Mariachi and Moco pursue the same woman.
Solution as it relates to Avoidance:
If El Mariachi had avoided a romance with Domino, Moco would have no reason to kill her and maim the guitar player, conversely, if Moco had respected Domino's wish to avoid him, the ensuing carnage would not have happened.
Symptom as it relates to Faith:
Moco has complete faith in his omnipotence; he feels he can humiliate El Mariachi with no chance of retribution.
Response as it relates to Disbelief:
Moco refuses to believe that El Mariachi is a worthy adversary.
Catalyst as it relates to Rationalization:
Domino's excuses to Moco why she cannot see him, serves to arouse his suspicions about another man and propel El Mariachi's and his relationship forward at a faster rate.
Inhibitor as it relates to Attitude:
It is Domino's attitude toward Moco (her initial refusal to go to him) that keeps El Mariachi and Moco from meeting.
Benchmark as it relates to Playing a Role:
El Mariachi must be a macho man to stand up to Moco.
Role: Musician
Description:
Handsome, young, romantic; in search of love and luck
Throughline Synopsis:
El Mariachi arrives into town looking for love, luck, and above all, steady work as a musician. What he finds instead is himself caught up in a situation of mistaken identity that can cost him his life. Although he fails in his goal, he does leave town a man, "sadder but wiser," and prepared for the future.
Backstory:
Throughline as it relates to Situation:
El Mariachi finds himself in a predicament of mistaken identity.
Concern as it relates to The Future:
El Mariachi is concerned with his future as guitar player and singer, by the end of the story he is confident that he is prepared for any dangerous situations that may befall him in the future.
Issue as it relates to Delay :
As soon as El Mariachi realized he was in a bad situation, he had the choice to leave town, however, because of Domino, he chose to delay.
Counterpoint as it relates to Choice :
Thematic Conflict as it relates to Delay vs. Choice:
Problem as it relates to Pursuit:
In a case of mistaken identity, El Mariachi is pursued by Moco's men.
Solution as it relates to Avoidance:
El Mariachi must avoid the men who think he is Azul, or get out of town altogether.
Symptom as it relates to Support:
Domino gives El Mariachi much needed moral support in his future career.
Response as it relates to Oppose:
El Mariachi is opposed to the men hunting him down, and once he is in love with Domino, he is opposed to Moco's hold over her.
Unique Ability as it relates to Openness:
If Moco's men had listened to El Mariachi tell the truth about himself, he would not have been pursued.
Critical Flaw as it relates to Denial:
Moco's men are on the lookout for Azul, described as a man dressed in black, carrying a suitcase full of guns. They refuse to look past this description to make certain they have found the right man, which causes many problems for El Mariachi.
Benchmark as it relates to How Things are Changing:
El Mariachi's progress in obtaining steady work as a musician is the standard by which he judges the degree of his concern.
Role: The outlaw who rules the town.
Description:
Cold, greedy, suave
Throughline Synopsis:
Moco is a man determined to be in control. This includes the town, his rival Azul, and Domino, the object of his affections.
Backstory:
Throughline as it relates to Fixed Attitude:
Moco is convinced he is ruler of the town.
Concern as it relates to Innermost Desires:
Moco is concerned with retaining control of the town and attaining Domino's love.
Issue as it relates to Hope :
Moco expects everything to go his way, including his dream of attaining Domino.
Counterpoint as it relates to Dream :
Thematic Conflict as it relates to Hope vs. Dream:
Problem as it relates to Logic:
Moco's logic does not take into account other people's emotions.
Solution as it relates to Feeling:
If Moco were able to have an emotional sense of how things were going, he would still be alive.
Symptom as it relates to Control:
Moco's determination to retain control over the town includes his plan to eliminate Azul, which causes problems for El Mariachi, the man mistaken for Azul; Moco's determination to attain Domino also causes problems for the musician, as he is in love with her as well.
Response as it relates to Uncontrolled:
Moco issues the order to kill Azul, then allows his men to follow through however they see fit, which essentially gives them free reign to go on a rampant, frenzied, shooting spree.
Unique Ability as it relates to Closure:
Moco can end El Mariachi's life.
Critical Flaw as it relates to Preconception:
Moco's unwillingness to reevaluate the seemingly ineffectual musician, results in his death.
Benchmark as it relates to Impulsive Responses:
Moco expects his drives and desires to be immediately taken care of, as this happens less and less, he becomes more and more impatient and short-tempered.
The Overall Throughline Act Order:
Overall Story Signpost 1 as it relates to Gathering Information:
Azul learns from his jail cell that Moco has taken over a nearby town; Moco learns his men were unsuccessful in their attempt to kill Azul, and now he is free and coming after him for his share of the loot; El Mariachi learns it's going to be difficult to find steady work in the new town; and so forth.
Overall Story Journey 1 from Gathering Information to Doing:
Overall Story Signpost 2 as it relates to Doing:
The hotel manager acts on instructions and notifies Moco that a man in black carrying a guitar case has just checked in; Moco's men are intent on executing the man in black; El Mariachi is concerned with defending his life; and so forth.
Overall Story Journey 2 from Doing to Obtaining:
Overall Story Signpost 3 as it relates to Obtaining:
Azul wants his money; El Mariachi needs to get his deposit back from the hotel; Moco's men try to waste the true Azul; and so forth.
Overall Story Journey 3 from Obtaining to Understanding:
Overall Story Signpost 4 as it relates to Understanding:
After Domino has talked to Moco, she and El Mariachi understand the situation, the players, and what it all means; Moco understands Domino loves the mariachi and has no intention of giving herself to him; Azul cannot understand how his men think he could have defended himself against three armed men with only a guitar; until Domino explains, El Mariachi doesn't understand how she can own a bar and still be poor; and so forth.
The Main vs. Impact Throughline Act Order:
Main vs. Impact Story Signpost 1 as it relates to Playing a Role:
El Mariachi appears to be the man Moco's men are looking for.
Main vs. Impact Story Journey 1 from Playing a Role to Changing One's Nature:
Main vs. Impact Story Signpost 2 as it relates to Changing One's Nature:
Unbeknownst to Moco, El Mariachi has become Domino's lover, affecting her relationship with Moco and establishing the source of conflict between the two men.
Main vs. Impact Story Journey 2 from Changing One's Nature to Conceiving an Idea:
Main vs. Impact Story Signpost 3 as it relates to Conceiving an Idea:
Moco's notion to see through his battle with Azul causes conflict for El Mariachi.
Main vs. Impact Story Journey 3 from Conceiving an Idea to Developing a Plan:
Main vs. Impact Story Signpost 4 as it relates to Developing a Plan:
El Mariachi realizes that Moco has set about winning Domino's love with material gifts-El Mariachi can only do so with original music created for her; once Moco understands he has lost Domino to the musician, he formulates a plan to exact revenge by shooting off the guitar player's hand.
The Main Character Throughline Act Order:
Main Character Signpost 1 as it relates to The Past:
El Mariachi wants to learn how to perform as well as his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather have in the past.
Main Character Journey 1 from The Past to How Things are Changing:
Main Character Signpost 2 as it relates to How Things are Changing:
El Mariachi bemoans the fact technology has made the mariachi obsolete.
Main Character Journey 2 from How Things are Changing to The Future:
Main Character Signpost 3 as it relates to The Future:
If El Mariachi is successful playing in Domino's bar, he will have a future for his career; he flirts with a romantic future by singing a love song to Domino.
Main Character Journey 3 from The Future to The Present:
Main Character Signpost 4 as it relates to The Present:
El Mariachi hides out, hoping the current situation will resolve (it doesn't); he is concerned for Domino out at Moco's ranch; in his present condition he does not know if he can continue his mariachi career; and so forth.
The Impact Character Throughline Act Order:
Impact Character Signpost 1 as it relates to Memories:
Moco promises Azul he won't forget their past triumphs, but meanwhile sends his gang to eliminate him.
Impact Character Journey 1 from Memories to Impulsive Responses:
Impact Character Signpost 2 as it relates to Impulsive Responses:
Moco's immediate response to the news Azul got away is not to worry, he is confident his men will find him with his description of Azul as a man always dressed in black carrying a guitar case.
Impact Character Journey 2 from Impulsive Responses to Innermost Desires:
Impact Character Signpost 3 as it relates to Innermost Desires:
Moco wants revenge from Azul for killing his ten men.
Impact Character Journey 3 from Innermost Desires to Contemplation:
Impact Character Signpost 4 as it relates to Contemplation:
Moco considers Domino has betrayed him; he does not consider El Mariachi a threat.
All Concerns:
El Mariachi comes into the town ruled by Moco, hoping to obtain a position as a mariachi. He is immediately caught up in a situation of mistaken identity; Moco has ordered the death of a Azul, an outlaw rival bearing the same outward characteristics as the guitar player. To complicate the situation, El Mariachi courts Domino, the woman Moco is also in love with. Although the case of mistaken identity is finally cleared up, Moco has discovered Domino and El Mariachi's relationship, and kills her. After Moco shoots off the musician's hand, and laughs in his face, El Mariachi kills him and leaves town, all innocence replaced with a hardened heart.
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Copyright
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