Movies where the protagonist needs to learn to embrace imperfection
April 27, 2016 6:06 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for examples of films (not TV) where the primary character arc is that of a protagonist who is attempting to be perfectly good/strong/emotionally invincible, but needs to learn to forgive him/herself for having human failings/vulnerabilities. Put another way, movies about forgiving oneself for failing to live up to an impossible ideal of being "good" "strong" or "perfect." Any genre will do.
Groundhog Day.
posted by TheCavorter at 6:13 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by TheCavorter at 6:13 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's a Wonderful Life.
And Groundhog Day, what? That's about almost exactly the opposite: stepping up to be less outrageously imperfect.
posted by bricoleur at 6:26 PM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
And Groundhog Day, what? That's about almost exactly the opposite: stepping up to be less outrageously imperfect.
posted by bricoleur at 6:26 PM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Most of the characters in The Breakfast Club.
posted by brookeb at 6:28 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by brookeb at 6:28 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
Ordinary People.
(It's actually about this.)
posted by flourpot at 6:30 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
(It's actually about this.)
posted by flourpot at 6:30 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
Isn't this the story arc of Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller's Day Off?
(I think he can be id'd as the protagonist since there is an interpretation of the film where Ferris does not exist at all and is essentially Cameron's "imaginary friend.")
posted by jbenben at 6:31 PM on April 27, 2016
(I think he can be id'd as the protagonist since there is an interpretation of the film where Ferris does not exist at all and is essentially Cameron's "imaginary friend.")
posted by jbenben at 6:31 PM on April 27, 2016
Also in an interesting way you could read The Stepford Wives as this story arc reaching into the culture of the time. In the film it's such an outrageous arc in the opposite direction that it makes the viewer more conscious of the tyranny of mid-20th C ideals of female perfection.
posted by flourpot at 6:34 PM on April 27, 2016
posted by flourpot at 6:34 PM on April 27, 2016
Good Will Hunting
posted by mefireader at 6:38 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by mefireader at 6:38 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
Bridget Jones's Diary. Or, Pride and Prejudice - but go with the Colin Firth iteration!
posted by chestnut-haired-sunfish at 6:54 PM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by chestnut-haired-sunfish at 6:54 PM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Good Will Hunting?
posted by deathpanels at 7:02 PM on April 27, 2016
posted by deathpanels at 7:02 PM on April 27, 2016
There is an entire trope usually expressed as the rigid businessman meeting the free-spirited sprite.
After Hours.
Dharma and Greg.
Bewitched. (edited to say: sorry, no TV)
A half a dozen Disney films of the 60s and 70s. Usually the rigid dad. Dean Jones specialized in this. I recall at least one with Bob Crane.
Mary Poppins. Mary letting her hair down or else the story arc of Mr. Banks.
My Fair Lady. (Let a woman in your life = letting chaos in your life)
Think of a star with a rigid character and you'll come up with others. David Niven. The Bishop's Wife.
Think of a female who plays free-spirited characters and you'll come up with others.
The screwball comedies did this. Ball of Fire, Bringing Up Baby (one of the best examples).
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:10 PM on April 27, 2016
After Hours.
Dharma and Greg.
Bewitched. (edited to say: sorry, no TV)
A half a dozen Disney films of the 60s and 70s. Usually the rigid dad. Dean Jones specialized in this. I recall at least one with Bob Crane.
Mary Poppins. Mary letting her hair down or else the story arc of Mr. Banks.
My Fair Lady. (Let a woman in your life = letting chaos in your life)
Think of a star with a rigid character and you'll come up with others. David Niven. The Bishop's Wife.
Think of a female who plays free-spirited characters and you'll come up with others.
The screwball comedies did this. Ball of Fire, Bringing Up Baby (one of the best examples).
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:10 PM on April 27, 2016
Harold and Maude is also an example of the trope dances_with_sneetches mentioned.
posted by deathpanels at 7:12 PM on April 27, 2016
posted by deathpanels at 7:12 PM on April 27, 2016
The fabulous mr. Fox
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 7:55 PM on April 27, 2016
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 7:55 PM on April 27, 2016
Rushmore
posted by kapers at 10:37 PM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by kapers at 10:37 PM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think the character of Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story qualifies.
posted by davidmsc at 11:27 PM on April 27, 2016
posted by davidmsc at 11:27 PM on April 27, 2016
The Weather Man
The main character isn't exactly trying to be perfect; it should be included in this list, though, because he does come to some acceptance of his manifold imperfections and this helps him to become *somewhat* better.
posted by bertran at 1:07 AM on April 28, 2016
The main character isn't exactly trying to be perfect; it should be included in this list, though, because he does come to some acceptance of his manifold imperfections and this helps him to become *somewhat* better.
posted by bertran at 1:07 AM on April 28, 2016
Best answer: Oddly I think kid's movies might be a good place to go for this. Both 'Frozen' and 'Inside Out' deal with those themes. Elsa trying to conceal & suppress her feelings/powers in Frozen. And Inside Out deals largely with it being okay to be sad, and not having to put on a brave face and be happy all the time for others.
posted by Caravantea at 5:08 AM on April 28, 2016
posted by Caravantea at 5:08 AM on April 28, 2016
I like Mr. Nobody for the idea that even when you know all the outcomes there are still no "right" choices.
posted by Shanda at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2016
posted by Shanda at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2016
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posted by gemutlichkeit at 6:09 PM on April 27, 2016