Character Study Film Guide: 4 Character Study Film Examples

A character study film centers on the main character’s specific desires, struggles, and trajectory. Internal feelings are the driving momentum instead of an external plot, and the character’s storyline is the filmmaker’s primary focus. Dynamic characters—those that change throughout the film—are crucial to this type of film. To make these characters more memorable, screenwriters imbue them with defining personality traits. Character study films often mirror humanity: Through the thoughts and actions of these particular characters, audiences may see their wants, fears, and beliefs reflected.

Early examples of character study films existed even during the silent film era, and the genre evolved throughout the twentieth century:

• Early examples: The Freshman (1925), directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor, follows a naive college freshman trying to woo a young woman by getting onto the football team. The film follows his clumsy attempts and goal to be a football star, reflecting modern views of popularity and masculinity.
• Citizen Kane sets the standard: As the medium of film evolved, so did the finessing of character studies. Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane (1941) was a seminal movie in advancing the character study genre. The film is about a mystery surrounding wealthy newspaper publisher Charles Kane’s last word, “rosebud,” before he dies; instead of experiencing the film through Kane’s eyes, this character study uses a question around Kane’s death as a vehicle for a reporter to unearth the truth of Kane’s life.
• Hollywood hits: The late-twentieth century saw more Hollywood character studies, popularizing the genre. Such films included Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976) and Raging Bull (1980), both starring Academy Award winner Robert De Niro.
• Diversification: The twenty-first century has seen a greater diversity of subjects and filmmakers behind character studies. Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight (2016) and Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird (2017) are two contemporary examples.

Characters in character study movies and short films may stem from archetypes, but the specificities of their character’s personalities make them relatable. These characters typically possess the following characteristics:

1. 1. A clear desire: In character study films, characters often have a clear want. In Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler (2008), Mickey Rourke’s aging character wants to hold onto his glory days as a professional wrestler and repair his career’s harmful effects on his family.
2. 2. A near insurmountable conflict: Characters will struggle with an obstacle that gets in the way of their want. In Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers (2019), Jennifer Lopez’s character struggles to maintain her integrity and relationships in an industry that exploits and underpays women.
3. 3. Change: As the film progresses, the character changes, becoming different from the first time viewers see them. They are not static characters and have nuanced character development. In Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha (2013), the twenty-something title character played by Greta Gerwig frantically and aimlessly moves through New York before accepting herself and transitioning into a more relaxed, mature period of her life.
4. 4. Specific character traits: The people populating character studies are not simply good characters or bad characters; instead, they are to be seen as complex human beings. In Mike Figgis’s Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Nicolas Cage is a solitary alcoholic on the brink of disaster who still craves and unknowingly seeks human intimacy and connection.

Many of the films critics and audiences love are character studies:

1. 1. American Psycho (2000): Patrick Bateman, played by Christian Bale, is a Wall Street investment banker by day and a serial killer by night. The film, directed by Mary Harron, offers a great character study of a man consumed by power and shows the dark ties between greed and murder.
2. 2. Black Swan (2010): Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan is a character analysis with a horror bent. Natalie Portman stars as a dancer auditioning for the lead role in Swan Lake, and she won an Academy Award for her performance.
3. 3. Phantom Thread (2017): Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, depicts a famed fashion designer so set in his ways that the prospect of true love makes him question his humanity.
4. 4. Joker (2019): Todd Phillips’s Joker features Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a party clown and comic who is cast aside by society, leading Fleck to become the infamous Batman villain, the Joker.

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