28 Film Analysis
The Porcelain Unicorn
By Keegan Robeson
Keegan Wilcox’s 2010 film Porcelain Unicorn follows a boy and a girl on opposing sides of World War II and how they oversee and overcome it decades later. This film illustrates how the human mind can differ from how people are raised or taught to be. The film shows that the group a person is a part of doesn’t necessarily define them as individuals.
The film starts with a man in a suit walking with a small box in his arm. The small box brings an element of mystery, as we do not know what is in it or any context. It also provides a hook to keep the viewer interested in discovering what is inside. When the man reaches the doorstep of the address seen on the box, the camera angle changes to a facial view of an old man holding the box and looking around as he seems to recall a fond memory. The camera then pans over to a window, which then cuts to a scene with a darker color scheme comprised of a grayish-green tint to show it is from an older time of more heavy feelings. We later learn that this man was a kid on the Nazi side of the war.
The film cuts to a sequence of three kids breaking into a building by climbing in through a window. As they do this, the text appears to read “Germany, 1943” in big white letters, making it more noticeable for the viewer from the background. This shows that WWII is an important piece of the storyline and helps build context. When the kids get into the building, they seem to be looking for something but don’t know what exactly. The camera then pans over to moldy bread, coffee, and cigarettes to show that the building has been abandoned and that no one has been there for a while or something that is in decline.
The kids continue looking for something when a clanging sound comes from a locker. When this happens, the other kids run away, and one kid stays to investigate, showing a scared or surprised expression. When the kid opens the door, it creaks to give an ominous feel. The first thing the kid sees is a Jewish badge sleeve (Star of David) on a little girl’s arm. This little girl seems to be in a hole in the wall behind the locker; when she sees the kid, she crawls further into the wall. The boy lights a lighter to signify hope in a dark place but also so he can see better. When the boy approaches the girl, she hands him a porcelain unicorn, which signifies innocence and peace. Although he is on the opposing side, he smiles and says he has never seen one of the Stars of David, the camera cuts to the girl’s face as she smiles, grabs the Star of David, and says “Beautiful,” showing she is proud of being Jewish. The first thing the boy notices is the Jewish sleeve badge on the girl, and he comments “Never seen one up close before,” showing that although the boy was taught to hate her race, curiosity plays a big role in the innocence of the children.
The next scene cuts to a group of armed Nazi soldiers who punch through the glass door and break in. When they enter the building, the lighter goes out, signifying that evil has approached, as darkness most commonly represents evil. The boy then relights it to show that not all hope is gone and that good always overcomes. The Nazi boy tells her to leave through another hole in the wall. This is very important as it was a task that took a lot of bravery as the death penalty was given to anyone who offered “aid to Jews who have left the Jewish residential areas without permission.” This shows the battle of the heart and societal commonalities at the time in Nazi Germany. The girl hesitates to show empathy and thankfulness before she swiftly makes her escape.
In the next scene, audiences see a boy standing at parade rest in front of the Nazi soldiers. The soldiers punish him by taking the porcelain unicorn and hitting him. In the process of hitting him, the soldier drops the unicorn and steps on it, representing that hope has quite literally been broken and that peace is a fragile thing that is wrecked by anger. The camera then cuts back to the same color scheme from the beginning, nice bright colors with a bright tint and neutral colors to show that it is a more joyful time but still concerns a serious topic. The man with the box, who is afraid, hesitates to knock, then turns around and begins to walk away. Shortly after, an old lady opens the door, and the scene cuts to the two of them sitting down in chairs. The man gives the lady the box, and inside lies the porcelain unicorn, she smiles as the unicorn is perfectly put back together, showing that hope can never be broken forever and although sometimes bad happens, kindness and peace will always overcome.
This film’s themes are bravery, trust, discrimination, and past versus present. It shows how people from opposite sides of society can find common ground and learn to appreciate each other for their differences. Although the Nazis were not good, it does not mean that everyone who was under their rule was bad. This film utilized a lot objects, colors/schemes, emotions/expressions, experiences, and even a little bit of dialogue which further backs the themes.
