The Fifth Element Structural Analysis
Part 1: Sequence Breakdown
Sequence 1: 1914:Â A Desert in Egypt. A Professor is deciphering the markings on the wall to explain the Fifth Element. We are introduced to a colony of big robotic aliens(The Mondoshawns) who are tasked with protecting the Fifth Element. The robots take the Fifth Element and vow to come back in 300 years when evil returns.
Sequence 2: 300 years later in Space. Introduction to the Greatest Evil: A Planet made of Fire. Â The priest reveals to the President the prophecy of the Fifth Element.
Sequence 3: South Brooklyn, New York. Introduction to Korben Dallas: The cab driver/former space fighter pilot. Â
Sequence 4: The Attack of the Keepers of the Fifth Element and the Creation of the Fifth Element.  A fleet of grotesque alien fighters destroys the shit of the robot aliens. The “Americans” were able to recover one survivor and artificially create the Fifth Element.
Sequence 5: The Fifth Element and Korben Dallas First Encounter. While evading government capture, the Fifth Element jumps off a building into traffic and falls in Korben Dallas’s cab. Dallas decides that he wants to help the supreme being escape the police.
Sequence 6: The Priest meets the Fifth Element for the first time. Dallas brings the Supreme Being to Vito Cornelius. Dallas tries to wake the Supreme Being by kissing her. The Supreme Being is introduced as Leeloo.
Sequence 7: Dallas confesses his attraction to Leeloo. Leeloo locates the location of the stones. Introduced to the Villain, Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg. He tries to exchange weapons for the stones from the aliens who attacked the protectors of the Fifth Element.
Sequence 8: The Zorg and the Priest Encounter and The Discovery of the Location of the Stone. Zorg chokes on a cherry, and the priest saves his life. Zorg sends his henchman to the President to discover where the stones are. The stones are with Plavalaguna who will be performing at a charity ball on Planet Fhloston.
Sequence 9: The Start of the Mission to Save the World. The government picks Dallas to be the one to retrieve the stones and save the world. The priest steals Dallas’ tickets to Planet Fhloston to save the world.
Sequence 10: Introduction to Ruby Rhod and Transportation scene to Fhloston Paradise. Leeloo and Dallas have a heart to heart where she claims her role as supreme being. Dallas states that he is supposed to protect Leeloo. Zorg is visited by the greatest evil, and he is told that if he does not have the stones he will bring the evil on Zorg.
Sequence 11: The Battle Scene with Korben and The Mangalore to save the stone, and Leeloo’s Battle Scene with Zorg. The death of Plavalaguana. Dallas rescues Leeloo after her battle scene with Zorg.
Sequence 12: The Escape from Fhloston Paradise and Journey to Earth to Powerup the Fifth Element to save the world. Leeloo looks up war and discovers all the ills of Humankind.
Sequence 13: Love Saves Us All. Korben confesses his love to Leeloo and it gives her the strength to save the world.
Part 2: Frame Analysis – Frame 1:26:20
In this frame, we have a medium three shot close up of Miss Gemini Croquet, Ruby Rhod, and Korben Dallas at the entrance of the Opera House. We have a clear focus on each character as well as their surroundings. Ruby Rhod is dressed in a black bodysuit with a reef of red roses around his collar along with his iconic staff. His hair is sectioned off into small puffballs. In the frame, he is speaking very passionately about something. Miss Gemini Croquet is wearing a toned down outfit in comparison to Ruby Rhod. Miss Gemini Croquet is wearing a glamorous black dress with a turtle neck collar and a baby blue shall with matching gloves. She has blonde braids that are pulled away from her face into a gravity-defying ponytail. Ruby Rhod is dressed in a black bodysuit with a reef of red roses around his collar along with his iconic staff. Lastly, Korben Dallas is dressed in a traditional black suit with a strikingly white dress shirt and a bow tie. Because the frame is taken while Ruby Rhod is conducting his broadcast, we can see that Miss Gemini Croquet is engaging with Ruby Rhod’s theatricality. Meanwhile, Korben does not want to be bothered.
Even though they appear together, there is a disconnect between the three characters. The frame is not centered equally on the three characters. Dallas and Ruby Rhod are more concentrated on the left side of the screen. Meanwhile, Miss Gemini Croquet splits center with the two other characters. Traditionally, a three-shot image would showcase a distinct relationship between the three individuals in the frame. Because each character is angled differently to the camera, we can see the tension between the characters. Dallas is looking away from Ruby Rhod and Miss Croquet in disgust. Ruby Rhod is in his own world with his eyes closed looking away from the camera. Miss Gemini Croquet appears to be looking directly at the camera.
Additionally, in this frame, the camera appears to be panning in the frame. Because the camera is following Ruby Rhod, there is more space on the right side of the screen. This camera is eye level, and it reflects the perspective of the audience following Ruby Rhod. The characters are shown in descending height order starting with Dallas.
I chose this frame because it showcases the transition where Ruby Rhod and Korben Dallas become reliant on each other. In the frame, we are shown Dallas’ annoyance for Ruby Rhod and vice versa. Both characters are represented in their original form.