INPUT / … / … / The Charismatic Protagonist

Following a character with a strong stake in the events you are depicting: does this help the audience become invested in the story or distract them? Being able to ground a story about a complex or divisive issue in the news with a strong protagonist definitely has its advantages. It helps the audience navigate through the complex geography of the issues in the story. But is there a danger in abandoning the bigger picture if the charismatic protagonist obscures a more balanced perspective? Do we run the risk of Netflixing our approach too heavily by zeroing in on a compelling personal story and ignoring the broader socio-political picture? A strong protagonist can be deployed to galvanise public opinion on issues where governments or institutions have failed to act. But when the issues are a matter of life and death you could argue that it’s not enough to just tell a compelling personal story without some accountability. These three films will make you reflect on the most effective way to use any story’s biggest asset — the human voice at the heart of it all.