Concepts
Film conflict
Conflict is the clash between what the protagonist wants and what stands in the way; without that clash there is no film.
Conflict is the engine of all storytelling. It almost always springs from a lack or a need: the character wants something, but a force opposes it. That tension between desire and obstacle is what keeps the viewer engaged.
Defining the conflict also means setting the point of view: the lens through which the story measures who is right and what is at stake. The same event changes meaning depending on who tells it.
It helps to distinguish external from internal conflict. External conflict pits the protagonist against something visible — another person, an obstacle, the environment; internal conflict is the character’s struggle with themselves: their fear, guilt or moral contradiction. The most memorable films usually sustain both at once, so the outer victory only arrives once the character resolves their inner conflict too.
Example
Coco: Miguel wants to be a musician, BUT his family forbids it. That “but” is the conflict.
How to spot it
Look for the story’s “but”: he/she wants X, BUT something gets in the way.
Frequently asked questions
How many types of conflict are there in film?
They group into conflict with another person, with the environment or fate, and with oneself (internal). A film can combine them.
Why is conflict so important?
Because without opposition there is no tension or change: conflict forces the character to act and to transform.