Characters

This part of the study guide will give you a characterization of the two most important characters of “Sweep” by Spencer Gillis, James and Jean.

James

James is the main character in the short film, demonstrated by the fact that the movie starts and ends with shots of him and that the camera mostly follows him.

His outer characterization reveals that he is a 38-year-old white man, probably working in the recycling or landscaping industry (he throws a pile of branches out of his van). From what he tells Jean, we find out that he is married and has two children, a girl and a boy, who are 2 and 4 years old. The movie also shows James smoking marijuana in the van. The van is borrowed, as indicated by the fact that James says he is late returning it.

Inner characterization

The character’s inner characterization is conveyed indirectly through his attitude and actions. The opening frame suggests that James is nervous because an employer did not pay the agreed amount for the working hours he put in. This is conveyed through a phone conversation. When the conversation ends abruptly, James appears angry.

Immediately afterwards, James lights a marijuana cigarette and puts on some rap music suggesting that he uses the smoking and the music to calm down. However, at the recycling center, the camera shows him nervously taking the trash out of his van, sugg...