Coen Bros: A Serious Man part 3
Enter Clive.
Clive is a student in Larry Gopnik’s physics class. Clive has failed a recent test. He wants Larry to raise his grade so that he can pass the class, otherwise he will lose his scholarship. At first blush, it seems that Clive’s suit is without merit — he failed the test, he deserves what he gets.
Coen Bros: A Serious Man part 2
After the Eastern-European parable that precedes the titles, A Serious Man shifts it focus to Danny Gopnik. The Coens literally put us inside Danny’s head, tunneling outward toward the tiny speaker stuck in his ear.
Coen Bros: A Serious Man part 1
I’ve received many comments from people who didn’t like the Coen Bros’ A Serious Man because it has “a passive protagonist.”
Well, interesting that folks should bring that up. A Serious Man challenges the protagonist question in a way I’ve never seen a movie do before, and it’s not just idle observation, it’s built into the structure of the entire movie. Because A Serious Man does not have a passive protagonist, it has a very active protagonist. A very active — and very powerful — protagonist.
Unless, of course, it does not. Which is exactly where the mystery lies.
Let me explain.