Narrative technique · used in 3 films
Having a character step into another person's delusion and help from inside it, without arguing against it. The kindness works because it respects how they see the world.
Examples
Park Chan-wook · 2006
When doctors force-feed Young-goon, Il-soon invents a fictional "rice-megatron" to convince her to eat. He never tells her she is not a cyborg. The film treats his gentleness as love.
Where to see it: Il-soon's rice-megatron trick. He gives her a way to eat that fits her own cyborg logic.
William Friedkin · 2007
Agnes does not argue with Peter. She starts agreeing with him, then sees what he sees. You watch one person's delusion move into another person's head.
Where to see it: The microscope scene. Peter pulls out a tooth and claims to see bugs under a microscope, and Agnes says she sees them too.
Terry Gilliam · 2018
Toby tries at first to correct Javier, then slowly plays along. Doing so keeps Javier calm and keeps the journey moving. It also becomes a kind of kindness that Toby never expected to give.
Where to see it: The accidental fire. Quixote sets fire to the town while Toby, now called his squire Sancho Panza, escapes on the motorbike.
Questions