Page One: “A Serious Man” (2009)

Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

The movie version of the opening:

What does the beginning sequence have to do with the rest of the film? Apart from framing the story as (arguably) the Coens’ most overt exploration of the Jewish experience, there is the uncertainty of whether the couple killed a rabbi or a dybbuk. As the character staggers off into the snowy night, we are left with no answer. This theme — What’s going on? — weaves throughout the story. Things happen in life, good and bad. Why? We try to understand, but the Coens are content to explore stories where there is no explanation.

Here’s an interesting analysis of the movie:

My favorite scene in the movie:

And yes, the Coens often do not use scene headings in their scripts.

You may read the screenplay here.

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.