Research into Todorov's Theory

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1. The main agents are 'Anna' or Lindsay Lohan, the protagonist, and her mother or Jamie Lee Curtis, the antagonist.

2. The Equilibrium is a state in which the mother and daughter are both frequently fighting. Lots of MCUs and CUs can be identified, as these give a good sense of expression and get us right up close with the chracter emotions being conveyed. For example on the way to school in the car, the camera frequently does CUs on each characters face to show their reactions to what the other is saying, and then cutting back to a main MLS of the whole conversation. Two contrasting types of mise-en-scene are used to show the mother and daughters very contrasting lifestyles. In Anna's room we see all the chaos of an ordinary teenagers room: a parental advisory sign, lots of mess everywhere, and on the other hand, in the mother's room, everything is very serene and neat and orderly. The mother dresses smartly for work, where Anna dresses scruffily and with messed up hair and rebellious clothing for school. In fact even the way in which they start the day shows a contrast, with Anna moaning and refusing to get out of bed, and the mother bright and chirpy.

3+4. Although the Disruption or Disequilibrium is neither introduced or hinted at, we can gather almost straight away that the mother and daughter's clashing relationship is going to play a massive role in the film. We are aware from the beginning that this is what the focus is going to be. Also we get the impression that some of the significant characters that they both mention for example Anna's enemy Stacey, and her crush Jake, and the mother's client Eric are going to come up again in the future, perhaps involved in the Disequilibrium. I also think it is clear that the wedding ceremony rehearsal is going to be a key event.

5. The equlibrium will obviously be restored when Anna and her mother have learnt to co-exist or to try and see things from each other's point of view, as it is clear right away that they do not see eye-to-eye on certain key issues, much like any mother and daughter. The new equlibrium may be an environment in which they try to understand each other better and argue less.