Narrative Structure - The Ending of Hero (2002) *Spoiler Alert*

Todorov

By the end of the film three of the main characters are dead, having sacrificed their lives and former desires for a greater good.
The character of Nameless starts off with a plan to avenge his family by killing the King of Qin but by the end of the film he has done a 180 and decides to let the King live. His old equilibrium, his desire for vengeance is replaced by a new equilibrium, his desire for peace. This dramatic change was influenced by the character Broken Sword who goes through a similar change himself.
Broken sword and Flying Snow start off wanting to kill the King. This shared goal bonds them and they become lovers. However after practising swordplay and calligraphy for some time Broken Sword comes to a realisation. He decides that the King should not be killed because he is the only person who can bring peace to the land. His new equilibrium forces a rift between him and Flying Snow.
After Flying Snow discovers that Nameless has failed in his quest and been executed she blames Broken Sword. She believes it is his influence that has caused Nameless to waste his opportunity to assassinate the King. Broken Sword's failure to assassinate the King and his influence over Nameless causes a disequilibrium for Flying Snow. In a state of rage she attacks her former lover, knowing however that he is a more capable fighter than she is. Broken Sword however drops his weapon mid fight and is mortally wounded by Flying Snow. She immediately feels remorse at what she has done and asks him why he did not defend himself. He replies that he wanted to prove his love for her. Overwhelmed by grief and no longer angry, Flying Snow kills herself.
All three characters start off vengeful but after a period of disequilibrium they each decide to give up their own life. Their noble deaths become their new equilibrium.


Propp

The problem with applying Propp's theory of character roles on the film Hero (2002) is deciding who the hero of the film is, especially when we are presented with three different versions of the same story. In an interview on the film's DVD the cinematographer Christopher Doyle mentions that there was a discussion about whether the film should be called Hero or Heroes as each character is heroic in their own way. As the story progresses the points of view of the characters change so that the line between hero and villain becomes blurred.
Nameless is the main protagonist so we might view him as the hero of the film's title. The villain therefore would be the King who he plans to kill but by the end of the film Nameless gives up his desire to assassinate the King and is himself killed.
The main story is told in three different versions and character roles change with each version. For example in the red version of the story Nameless fights against Flying Snow as her enemy but in the blue version she willingly sacrifices herself to help Nameless achieve his ultimate goal. Therefore in one version she is a villain but in another she is a helper.
Sky, Flying Snow and Broken Sword might all be seen as donors as it is by gaining their weapons that Nameless gains an audience with the King.