• The identity journey/struggle/transformation of the character is interestingly focused.

• The author analyzes the character rather than summarizes the plot.

• The essay is well-structured with a thesis statement at the end of the introduction, smooth transitions between paragraphs, topic sentences controlling paragraphs, and a clear multi-paragraph introduction-body-conclusion organization.

• The writing contains specific details, interesting description, and correct and well-chosen diction.

• The sentences are effectively structured and avoid major grammatical errors.

In this chapter, you will analyze a film. Specifically, you’ll build a thesis that focuses on identity, primarily on the identity journey/struggle/transformation of one character.

Consider, as you begin to build your identity analysis, what drives your character? What motivates him or her the most? What would he or she most want to see happen? What would he or she most try to avoid? What outcomes will most satisfy and most complete this character?

So, now, consider. Whose story do you want to analyze? Whose experience would you like to elucidate? Who is a hero (or villain) whose story resonates for you? Whose journey/struggle transformation do you find truly compelling or troubling or surprising? Once you decide on a character and a film, you will now likely want to rewatch your film. Make sure that this film feels right for you.

As the model essays at the end of this chapter will consistently showcase, your film analysis will be presented in three parts. You will not write about all scenes in your

 movie. You will, instead, choose three representative scenes. One scene represents your character early in her or his journey; one scene represents your character at a meaningful, middle moment in her or his journey; one scene represents your character

 at a final, likely-now-completed moment in her or his journey.

 Thus, you will choose to use a classic analytic structure: examining beginning,

 middle, and end. That’s only three scenes. That hardly seems fair. Your character is so delightful

 and interesting. Limiting yourself to a mere three scenes almost feels like it’s not

 enough. How can you possibly tell the whole story of your character in three scenes?

 That is precisely your challenge—and your opportunity—to choose scenes that

 showcase tell-tale elements of the character’s identity. You are choosing three scenes

 that will help you to support and develop your thesis. One of the great

 challenges/opportunities of this assignment is to choose effective scenes that will

 advance your thesis. 

 Remember, you are not trying to tell your character’s whole story. You are trying to highlight the most-important aspect of her or his identity.

The larger point is that you will need to make logical choices that are motivated

 by your thesis. Your thesis is driving this essay. It defines what you’ll include and what

 you’ll analyze.

The most-significant challenge with an assignment designed like this is that it restricts you. You cannot tell us the whole story. That’s not your assignment. Your assignment is to build support for your thesis by choosing representative elements that support your argument. Your assignment is to select the most-telling tidbits. Your assignment is to choose the best gems. From among the many scenes, your opportunity is to hand-pick three that fit together in a coherent manner to provide support for your argument.

This idea about leaving out large parts of the film is also crucial to this assignment. This assignment is not asking you to writing a movie review—and it certainly is not asking you to write a plot summary. Instead it is asking you to showcase a truth about human psychology and emotion and spirit by showing three moments that a person is living through. It’s a very restricted task. It is the equivalent of writing about a Harry Potter film and never mentioning Harry Potter. This is conceivable if—if if if— your thesis relates to the romance between Hermione and Ron. If your identity thesis focuses on those two characters, and you only get three scenes to develop your analysis, then it is certainly possible that good old Harry might never even appear in your essay about Hermione and Ron. 

Since I am the audience who is unfamiliar with your film, I need you to show me the film. You can’t rely on me to know your film; you need to help me experience the film. When you present the scenes that you are really and truly showcasing, help me to see the images. Help me to hear the sounds. Help me to feel the feelings. I want it to be like I did, in fact, see the scenes that you described because you described them with such vivid details. I want you to take the time to slow down.

Help me to feel the feelings.

To accomplish this, present your first and third scenes using a tri-focal approach. This means to look at each scene from three angles, to look through three different lenses.