# What is this type of story/movie called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320 "2008-01-28T16:39:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/21 "2008-01-28T17:32:59Z")
[QUOTE=Le Comte de Mortain] Boom something. Boomtown? [/QUOTE] Mais oui! Tres bien, mon ami. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/22 "2008-01-28T17:53:42Z")
An example of this would be Terry Pratchett’s Nomes trilogy. Book 1 is a straight narrative. Book 2 has some characters who disappear in the middle of the book, and return at the end. Book 3 tells what happened to those characters in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/23 "2008-01-28T17:56:15Z")
_Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead_ would seem to be a perfect example, but I have no idea if there is a name for it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/24 "2008-01-28T19:34:34Z")
When done so badly that it does nothing to advance the story and just puts the audience to sleep, this technique is called a ny-quel. _Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead_ was one of the first things that popped into my head, too, but on reflection I think it’s a clever disguise. It’s not really about the events of _Hamlet_, it’s about particle physics and what it must feel like to be Schrodinger’s cat. ---
**Author:** ![wouldn\_t\_you\_like\_to\_know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@wouldn\_t\_you\_like\_to\_know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wouldn_t_you_like_to_know)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/25 "2008-01-28T19:57:28Z")
Another example, at least in book and play, would be the Wizard of Oz and Wicked (told from the wicked witch POV). ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/26 "2008-01-28T20:26:44Z")
The last 2 books of the Mutiny on the Bounty trilogy (Men Against the Sea and Pitcairn’s Island) take place at the same time, the first recounting Bligh’s voyage after the mutiny and the second the mutineers. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/27 "2008-01-28T21:03:27Z")
Piers Anthony’s Incarnations of Immortality series would be an example of parallel. Many of the events featured over the 7 book series cover the same time period. A Horse and His Boy from the Chronicles of Narnia would be a mid-quel of sorts. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/28 "2008-01-28T21:07:29Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] I’ve seen this talked about as parallel stories. On stage, the most clever example is the “Norman Conquests” trilogy by Alan Ayckbourne. It consists of three plays: **Table Manners** , **Living Together** and **Round and Round the Garden**. The three plays show the events of the same weekend in the dining room, living room, and garden (respectively) of one house. When a character is offstage in one play, another play shows what he is doing. [/QUOTE] French director Lucas Belvaux did the same thing with his trilogy of films: _[On the Run](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0233418/), [An Amazing Couple](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0234940/)_, and _[After the Life](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0233230/)_. All 3 films recount many of the same events and include the same core of 6 or 7 characters whose paths cross and intertwine, but each film is a completely different genre (thriller, romantic comedy, relationship drama) because each film focuses on a different set of characters. Not very well known in the states, but a terrific set of films. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/29 "2008-01-28T21:37:52Z")
Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea? Susan ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/30 "2008-01-28T22:22:19Z")
Two of the _Saw_ movies (two and three, I think? I haven’t seen them, but I heard about it) take place at the same time and have some overlapping characters. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/31 "2008-01-28T22:25:54Z")
Here’s a bunch of different quels. > **[Sequel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequel)** > > A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same fictional universe as an earlier work, usually chronologically following the events of that work. > In many cases, the sequel continues elements of the original story, often with the same characters and settings. A sequel can lead to a series, in which key el... ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/32 "2008-01-28T22:43:03Z")
[QUOTE=cbawlmer] Two of the _Saw_ movies (two and three, I think? I haven’t seen them, but I heard about it) take place at the same time and have some overlapping characters. [/QUOTE] There is some overlap running between all four Saw movies. I would think of them more as sequels with some flashbacks/insight into prior events rather than parallels or other sequel varients. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/33 "2008-01-28T23:11:43Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] There is some overlap running between all four Saw movies. I would think of them more as sequels with some flashbacks/insight into prior events rather than parallels or other sequel varients. [/QUOTE] I just checked the Wikipedia entries, and it says _Saw IV_ runs concurrently with the events in _Saw III_ (and the entries for each film give enough plot description that this appears to be true). All the films obviously are sequels, but _Saw IV_ appears to specifically show “the other side” of some of the events of _Saw III_. I can’t believe I’m arguing about movies that I’ve never seen, and don’t want to see. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/34 "2008-01-28T23:18:51Z")
Another example is **The Horse and His Boy** , from the Narnia series. Takes place during the Pevensie’s reign. The events are different, but we see three of the previous characters, in passing, from the POV of someone who never gets to know them well. However, this is one of the reasons why ordering the Chronicles, uh…chronologically…does not work. In **LWW** , the story ends with them back in England, children again, and the circle is closed. It’s awkward to flash back in the very next book, and I think it’s important to have seen the Pevensies mature a bit in **PC** and **VotDT** before you see them as adults. Plus, Lewis hypes the story of Prince Cor twice in **SC**. Chrono ordering makes **SC** next-to-last, at which point you’ll be thinking, “Whaddya mean, I _must_ read it sometime! You told it already!” ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/35 "2008-01-28T23:19:33Z")
[QUOTE=cbawlmer] I just checked the Wikipedia entries, and it says _Saw IV_ runs concurrently with the events in _Saw III_ (and the entries for each film give enough plot description that this appears to be true). All the films obviously are sequels, but _Saw IV_ appears to specifically show “the other side” of some of the events of _Saw III_. I can’t believe I’m arguing about movies that I’ve never seen, and don’t want to see. [/QUOTE] You’re right, sorry. I was thinking about parts 2 and 3 in my last statement. Bad brain moment there. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/36 "2008-01-28T23:20:05Z")
I think this is what the Japanese usually call a _Gaiden_ - roughly “side story.” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/37 "2008-01-28T23:30:39Z")
The novel and movie _Mary Reilly_, starring Julia Roberts, John Malkovich, Michael Gambon and Glenn Close, retell the story of Jekyll and Hyde from the POV of his maid. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/38 "2008-01-28T23:34:16Z")
I’ll vote for **sidequel**. It sounds like a real word and the meaning is clear from the name. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/39 "2008-01-28T23:44:49Z")
Would _[Lola rennt](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130827/maindetails)_ qualify for this? The same story is told three times in one movie from the same point of view, but with a small change in the beginning of each telling that affects the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320/40 "2008-01-28T23:46:28Z")
And of course, _The Crimson Permanent Assurance_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-type-of-story-movie-called/435320.md?page=3)