Show Here’s a scene from Rain Man which is tense, heart-warming, and surprising all the same. Scene Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-nkUxQ58ug Written by: Barry Morrow & Ronald Bass Scene Context:Charlie is taking his long-lost autistic savant brother, Raymond, on a road trip to LA in hopes to secure his deceased father’s inheritance. Charlie believes he’s never met Raymond before the past week, but has vague memories of a “rain man” who would comfort him as a child. Scene Conflicts:
Scene Outline:
Why It Works:Thrilling Exposition: What I didn’t notice until my third viewing of the scene is the fact that, at it’s core, it’s a blatant exposition scene. It exists entirely to tell us about these character’s backstories, and yet it’s (in my opinion) the most thrilling scene of the film. This is entirely because of how tightly crafted each piece of revealed exposition is- it emerges as a small mystery of sort that needs to be solved somehow. First, it’s trying to figure out what the term “rain man” means, which naturally leads into how Charlie and Raymond interacted in the past. And why did Charlie leave? Well, the answer to that lies in Raymond’s reaction to the hot water. When we uncover his reaction, we uncover necessary exposition that gives us a deeper, more human insight into each character. Invulnerable Turned Vulnerable: One of the most affecting moments of this scene occurs when Charlie starts asking Raymond about the song. Suddenly, the obnoxiously guarded Charlie has let his walls down and wants nothing more than to hear his brother sing to him. It’s quietly poignant, packed with emotion and massive character development. Though this occurs midway through the film, it feels wonderfully cathartic and gives the audience hope that there’s genuine humanity lurking beneath the cold exterior of Charlie Babbitt. Opposite Character Reactions: Notice that every piece of information revealed elicits opposite reactions from each character. One views it as strikingly mundane, while the other views it as massive. The hot water means nothing to Charlie, but everything to Raymond. The term “rain man” similarly means nothing to Raymond, yet is the world to Charlie. Their opposing reactions are a staple of their film-long conflict- the inability to connect. When creating a film built entirely around a character relationship, it is really important that they are constantly coming into some degree of conflict, whether that be minute or large scale. In Summary…By putting the film’s central conflict front and center, the writers effectively disguise the exposition within the scene and, through that exposition, create natural character reactions. This ultimately allows the scene to unravel in a manner which is constantly exciting yet heartfelt for the audience. Yarn is the best way to find video clips by quote. Find the exact moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect spot. It's available on the web and also on Android and iOS.Hot water! Hot water burn baby! Rain Man (1988) More clips of this movie Did Raymond hurt Charlie Rain Man?Raymond had saved an infant Charlie from being scalded by hot bathwater one day, but their father had blamed him for nearly injuring Charlie and committed him to the institution, as he was unable to speak up for himself and correct the misunderstanding.
Does Rain Man have autism?The movie is the story of two brothers, Charlie Babbitt and his brother, Raymond Babbitt, an autistic savant.
What was Dustin Hoffman's condition in Rain Man?In 1988, the movie "Rain Man," starring Dustin Hoffman, introduced many to a disorder known as savant syndrome. In the film, Hoffman's character, Raymond Babbitt, has an amazing memory for baseball statistics and phone book listings.
What is the story of Rain Man?When car dealer Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) learns that his estranged father has died, he returns home to Cincinnati, where he discovers that he has an autistic older brother named Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) and that his father's $3 million fortune is being left to the mental institution in which Raymond lives. Motivated by his father's money, Charlie checks Raymond out of the facility in order to return with him to Los Angeles. The brothers' cross-country trip ends up changing both their lives.Rain Man / Film synopsisnull
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