Great Scene: “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

A contentious exchange between Riggan and his daughter Sam turns into an acerbic truth-telling moment.

The 2014 movie Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is filled with memorable dramatic scenes. Here is one of them.

Plot summary: A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.

Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu & Nicolás Giacobone & Alexander Dinelaris & Armando Bo

Scene setup: After a long day of play rehearsals, Riggan spots his daughter Sam in the green room.

Here is the movie version of the scene:

Note the emotional turns in the scene, how it starts off normally enough, a mundane interchange, but evolves into Sam’s explosive commentary on her father’s state in life. And then…

Look at their respective faces at the end of the movie scene. How they react to an unspoken truth which has been spoken … and can’t be taken back.

For more articles in the Great Scene series, go here.