The Multi-Protagonist Film

The Multi-Protagonist Film explores the origins and history of one of the most exciting new developments in contemporary film worldwide. This “new” genre isn’t really new at all; rather, its historical roots run deep in the Hollywood canon – think Grand Hotel – and re-emerge in contemporary iterations in movies such as Singles,  American Pie, Short Cuts, and Syriana. 

This volume provides elegant analyses of a variety of films to help chart the genre’s evolution and to explore the complexity, mixed messaging, and signal changes that define the multi-protagonist film in the current age. From the impact of globalization on society to shifting morals and the aftershocks of the sexual revolution, The Multi-Protagonist Film helps us to understand the genre and the imponderables that define the political, cultural, public and private spheres.