Character (1997)

Character won the Oscar for foreign language film in its day, and it holds up quite well. Completely character-driven (no pun intended), the plot centers on a life-long confrontation between father and son – generally from a distance, although the movie begins with mano-a-mano before retracing the boy’s whole life (told while he is in police custody) and then continuing just beyond, to reveal who really did kill the man—an infamous and ruthless bailiff, enforcing evictions, repossessions, and bankruptcies, and hated by many (if not all, including possibly himself). The father-son relationship is necessarily at a distance for these reasons, and another that winds throughout the narrative. The father sees his adversarial approach as a break-or-break thing – thwarting his son will help make him stronger. The son, in turn, wants to prove he can succeed on the merit of his own ambition and hard work. Character is a Gordian knot of intricate characters, and the interplay of their character. I believe this one will stay with me for a long time – and will with you too. Enjoy! 4.5 stars. (3-28-2016)