Self Discovery In Film

In the films The Adventures of Félix, directed by Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau, and Tomboy, directed by Céline Sciamma, both protagonists go through a journey of self discovery and identity searching. Though very different in the substance of the story, the theme is relatively similar, covering concepts ranging from prejudice and peer inclusion or rejection to family tensions and romantic interests. Félix’s story follows him on his own, continuously meeting new people with whom he shares his narrative. His journey of self discovery has the guise of paternal discovery, but as it progresses, it is clear that it is all about Félix finding himself. To contrast, Laure/Mikaël goes through their journey with the same group of people, their family and the new friends they make in the beginning of the film. It’s a more obvious self-discovery plotline, focusing almost singularly on Laure/Mikaël and …show more content…
Félix loses his job and his mother, leaving him with the task of cleaning out her house and a lot of free time. Laure/Mikaël is moving to a new development and is starting at a new school. Using the plot device of new beginnings and/or a loss of stability sets a blank page for the audience. The characters are in a perfect place for the viewers to start following their story, as the narrative has changed drastically, and the characters have to change with it. The viewer sees the very beginning of these changes when Félix finds the old letter from his father in a box in his mother’s room, and when Laure introduces themself to Lisa as Mikaël. These moments are pinholes, tipping points. Finding the letter means seeing a last known address, and sparked hope for a meeting. The use of a masculine name sets the stage for a shift or a change in identity, a difference between home and birth expectations, and playing with friends and peers. The circumstances are different, but the narrative device is