In this sequence, we meet our 2 protagonists, Jake and Elwood Blues. Both are performers who sing and dance throughout the musical film (as Saturday Night Live fans will know). We know that Jake is a criminal being let out of prison on parole. We don’t as much about Elwood apart from his relation to Jake.
From this opening sequence, we can work out that the equilibrium is that Jake is trying not to break the law anymore (“…good behaviour” at 3:47) in the state of Illinois (Sign at 1:34) with the help of his brother Elwood. The audience becomes aware of how closely there are related as brothers in 2 main ways; their appearance is very similar (the suits, the hats, the sunglasses and the CUs of names on their fingers at 4:06 and 4:49), at the end of the sequence they also hug each other to anchor the fact that these 2 are going to be together for the rest of the film.
The sequence does not hint at what the disequilibrium will be or what the hero’s journey will be apart from the fact that it will probably involve them running from the law.
From my knowledge of the film, I do know what happens outside of this sequence and how it can be applied to Todorov’s theory:
- The original disequilibrium is that both protagonists are out of prison, not breaking any laws (yet) by themselves. The Blues Brothers Band has split up since Jake was in prison.
- The disequilibrium arises about 5 minutes later into the film when they discover that their old orphanage is going to be closed unless it pays $5000 to the Cook County's in 11 days. However, as the orphanage is run by a nun, they are forbidden to collect the money illegally.
- Both brothers go on a journey to reunite the band together so that they can perform a revue to raise the money. During this, they manage to make several enemies; Illinois Nazis, a country Western band and every police force / SWAT team / military group / Illinois Guardsmen who come after them in the finale.
- At the end, the Blues Brothers and their band are thrown into Joliet Correctional Centre with the orphanage still open and running.
