Final answer:
The use of flashback in the genre of Sunset Boulevard is indeed true. It serves to deepen the narrative and character development and is typical in episodic plots which allow for complex storytelling.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that in the genre of Sunset Boulevard, flashback is a typical device used is true. A flashback is a plot device where the narrative goes back in time to reveal past events that inform the current situation of the story, providing insights into characters or setting up clues for future plot developments. Films like Sunset Boulevard utilize this technique to construct a more layered and intricate narrative.
Additionally, a nonlinear narrative may be told through a series of flashbacks, or vignettes, to create a story about trauma or to build complexity within the plot. The use of a flashback not only adds depth to the storytelling but also allows the audience to experience the events from different timelines in a single narrative arc.
Finally, it's essential to distinguish between linear or causal plots, which follow a chronological order, and episodic plots that use flashbacks or flash-forwards to rearrange events. Each type provides a different narrative experience, with episodic plots often seen in complex narratives such as television series, where they might keep doors open for future plotlines.