Charles Herman
Significant details about Charles Herman
Scene: Johns meets Charles for the first time
What film techniques are used in specific scenes to introduce Charles?
What film techniques are used to show Charles’ behaviour?
“The truth is I don’t like people much.”Turns Johns opinions light hearted
Turns Johns opinions light hearted
“Mathematics is never going to lead you to a higher truth, and you know why? Because it’s boring.”
“(John) Because its the only way I’ll ever …….. (Charles) Matter.”
What does Charles represent in John’s life?
A friend
He was a side of John that he wished he was more like
He is freed by creating Charles, he is able to justify his actions to himself
Significant details about Charles Herman
Scene: IN THE LIBRARY/BAR
Has been doing maths for two days
Not a lot of people in the library, time where people are sleeping/ socialising
We hear Charles before we see him
He has been watching the outside world and has been making calculations to depict the outside world
BAR SCENE
“Whos winning you or you?” John is playing pool by himself, looks for recognition from Charles
What film techniques are used in specific scenes to introduce Charles?
Long shot of almost empty Library, almost point of view of Charles Long shot of John sitting on window ledge
Lighting from Lamp
“You know Hanson has just published another paper?” -Johns not achieving enough for his standards
Point of view medium shot showing Charles for the first time in this scene
“And this is a woman chasing a man who stole her purse” – John is getting absorbed in his reality of mathematics and is losing touch with the real world. He is losing touch with what is happening in the real world
Charles tries to get Johns grip of reality back, He is the voice of reason John creates for himself
John introduces another character related to Charles, makes Charles seem more real, time of need and is slipping deeper into his delusions, trying to cope with added stress so he creates more characters for him to rely on
Marcee represents family, no family seen before in film
“When did you last eat?” two shot of Charles and John, he is in lighting so he is having revealed that he needs to look after himself more
Long shot of John existing library, arms in air representing freedom, Charles helps him to be free
BAR SCENE
Long shot of John looking for recognition from Charles
Point of view shot of Charles clapping for John
Pans to look at colleges walking into Bar
John is rude and abrupt into first meeting with a woman, talks about intercourse with her and she slaps him
You hear Charles first
Medium shot shows door is opened for Charles and he enters Bathroom, Charles makes John feel light heartedly make John feel better about his failures
What film techniques are used to show Charles’ behaviour?
What does Charles represent in John’s life?
Charles promotes freedom in Johns life, giving John excuses to allow himself to be human, rather than focusing on mathematics all the time Charles
Charles provides another support structure for John, introducing Marcee into the film
Significant details about Charles Herman
Scene: JOHN ‘HITS THE WALL’
Close up of back of Johns’ head as he hits it on the window
“I can’t fail”
“This is all I am”
Mental illness added to life pressure, John is battling with schizophrenia while also battling with his life, being a genius, living at Princeton.
Conflict to conform – face the wall, facing the task in front
If delusions are not managed(left unchecked and unsupported) they can become self-harmful and harmful to others around him “Come on! Go on, bust your head! Kill yourself!”
“Come on! Go on, bust your head! Kill yourself!” – the first time we see delusions turning on John
“Goddamn it Charles, Charles! What the hell is your problem?” – the first time we see John taking control of his own delusions, he can fight back
“Your answer isn’t face the wall, it’s out there where you’ve been working.” – come up will all ideas while looking at the real world, that where he will find his original idea and the answer he has been looking for
Charles is Johns friend, social interaction, makes him feel better, gives him self, but Charles sepeartes John from the rest of the world.
What film techniques are used in specific scenes to introduce Charles?
“Jesus Christ, John” – we hear Charles first
“Come on let’s go out
What film techniques are used to show Charles’ behaviour?
What does Charles represent in John’s life?