What is difference between choice and decision when it comes to audience experience?

In our second part of our “series” on Choices and Decisions, we take a deep dive into THE FAREWELL and WRATH OF MAN, with a sidebar on NOMADLAND.

In THE FAREWELL, we consider how the choice/decision to lie underpins every sene of the film (to great effect).

In NOMADLAND, we consider how using choice and decision is a great way to show how a character doesn’t change.

And in WRATH OF MAN, we look at how non-linear narrative - and its decoupling of choice, decisions and consequence (wouldn’t that be a detripling???) impacts the audience experience, especially how we feel about characters.

The terminology we settled on in Part 1 was:

• CHOICE: Are the options presented to the character.
• DECISION: Is the knowing consideration of the choice and resulting action.
• CONSEQUENCE: is the resulting outcome from the choice.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Chris for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00:00 - Intro
• 00:01:38 - Decisions & Choices Recap
• 00:03:41 - The Farewell
• 00:28:58 - Nomadland
• 00:37:39 - Wrath of Man
• 01:36:54 - Wrap Up & Key Learnings
• 01:45:06 - Backmatter

LINKS

• Damon Young: https://www.damonyoung.com.au/
• Stephen Cleary: https://www.stephencleary.org/

RELATED EPISODES

• DZ-34: Game of Choices - Decision Making and Character Implications
• DZ-48: One-Shot – Blade Runner 2049 – Agency vs Choice
• DZ-84: Choices & Decision 1 - Booksmart

 

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