I’m just watching The Natural on TV and was fascinated by the way they have created suspense in a number of scenes involving Robert Redford’s character.
We, the audience, were witness to a pivotal moment in Redford’s character’s past – we saw what happened, but it was not revealed at the time why it happened. After the story flashed forward 16 years, other characters are interested in Redford’s character and his past, but Redford doesn’t disclose or elaborate where he is from, or what happened to him.
Because we saw what happened, we are in on Redford’s past – and because we know a little bit about what happend, but no motive, I think it makes us even more keen for the other characters to keep asking and to get Redford to reveal what happened and why.
It is a way of creating suspense, but it doesn’t seem artificial or manipulated like it might if it was a scene that relied on trick camera angles or clever editing. It is suspense that comes about as a direct result of the story, rather than filmic techniques.
Had we not seen the events of 16 years earlier, we wouldn’t be as keen for the reveal, but because we know a little bit about it, it serves to whet our appetite and keep us hooked to find out when the other character’s will discover the truth about Redford’s character’s past.
Anyway, it is an interesting movie thus far, and it will be interesting to see how the revelation unfolds.