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Southland Tales (2007) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Southland Tales (2007) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2007 · 145 min · English
JustWatch #1,172 59
Directed by
Richard Kelly

In a near-future Los Angeles grappling with impending disaster, social unrest, and economic instability, a group of disparate individuals finds their lives intertwined. Over three days leading up to a major holiday, Boxer Santaros, Krysta Now, and Roland Taverner confront amnesia, the pervasive influence of reality television, and complex conspiracies. As the city hurtles towards chaos, revelations emerge that have the potential to drastically alter their understanding of reality and the future.

On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Southland Tales
  8. 8 Categories
  9. 9 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Southland Tales (2007)

Where can you watch Southland Tales? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hulu, Xumo Play and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Southland Tales Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Southland Tales (2007), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Boxer Santaros

    Boxer is an action film star grappling with amnesia as he becomes the most wanted man while holding the prophetic screenplay that could dictate humanity's future. His character serves as a vessel for exploring themes of identity and the weight of destiny, thrusting him into a world of chaos where his past and future converge ominously.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Hero
    • 🎬 Actor
    • ❓ Amnesia
  • Krysta Now

    Krysta is a former adult film star who has transitioned into a psychic persona, attempting to navigate the chaos around her while creating a reality TV show. Her character represents the blending of entertainment and reality, showcasing the superficialities of modern culture amidst a dystopian backdrop.

    • 🎥 Reality TV
    • 🌠 Psychic
    • 🌪️ Chaos
  • Roland Taverner

    Roland is one half of the twin brothers whose lives become deeply interconnected with broader events in the chaotic world around them. He embodies the theme of duality and the struggle for individual identity amidst external pressures, further complicated by his unique circumstances of being duplicated through time travel.

    • 👬 Twin
    • 🌌 Time Travel
    • 🔗 Interconnected
  • Ronald Taverner

    Ronald, the other twin brother, shares a complex journey with Roland, revealing how their fates are intricately tied together. The duality of their existence allows the film to explore themes of self, conflict, and the consequences of advanced technology on personal identity.

    • 👬 Twin
    • 🔀 Identity
    • 🌪️ Chaos

Last updated: February 02, 2025 at 08:46

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Setting

Where and When Does Southland Tales Take Place?

The setting of Southland Tales (2007): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

2008, Alternate History

Set in a near-future 2008, the film explores an alternate history shaped by nuclear devastation and relentless conflict. The timeline is marked by a totalitarian response to chaos, including the implementation of the PATRIOT Act and global warfare. The events highlight a profound commentary on the potential for societal fragmentation amidst crisis.

Location

Los Angeles, Texas (El Paso, Abilene)

The movie is primarily set in a dystopian version of Los Angeles, known locally as 'The Southland', which is on the verge of chaos amidst a backdrop of societal collapse. The film also references two towns in Texas, El Paso and Abilene, representing the initial destruction caused by twin nuclear attacks. These locations embody the catastrophic consequences of war and the subsequent societal turmoil.

  • 🌆 City
  • 🌍 Fictionalized Reality
  • 💣 Nuclear Disaster

Last updated: February 02, 2025 at 08:46

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3 major themes

Southland Tales Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Southland Tales (2007) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Surveillance

    A major theme in the film is the pervasive surveillance state enabled by the government's response to the chaos. The introduction of US-IDent demonstrates the erosion of personal freedoms and privacy in the wake of national security concerns. This theme resonates in the context of the film's critique of post-9/11 America.

  • Environmental Catastrophe

    The narrative also addresses environmental issues through the invention of the 'Fluid Karma' generator. While promising a solution to energy crises, it simultaneously threatens to destabilize the planet's ecosystem. This juxtaposition reflects the delicate balance between technological advancement and environmental responsibility.

  • Identity

    Identity plays a crucial role, particularly through the character of the Taverner twins, whose intertwined fates raise questions about the nature of individuality. Boxer Santaros, suffering from amnesia, further complicates the theme by embodying a search for self amid chaos and confusion. The film invites viewers to ponder the fragmented nature of identity in a world collapsing in on itself.

Last updated: February 02, 2025 at 08:46

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Character & theme questions

Southland Tales Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Southland Tales (2007): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Southland Tales set?

The movie is set in a dystopian version of Los Angeles referred to as 'The Southland,' which is on the verge of chaos amid societal collapse. The story also references El Paso and Abilene in Texas, the sites of twin nuclear attacks that set the catastrophic events in motion.

  • los angeles
  • the southland
  • setting
  • el paso
  • abilene
  • nuclear attack
Q2

What time period does Southland Tales take place in?

The film is set in a near-future 2008, presenting an alternate history shaped by nuclear devastation and global conflict. This timeline features a totalitarian government response reminiscent of the PATRIOT Act, reflecting the movie's commentary on post-9/11 America.

  • 2008
  • alternate history
  • near future
  • time period
  • dystopian
Q3

What is US-IDent in Southland Tales?

US-IDent is a surveillance system introduced in the film that represents the government's erosion of personal freedoms and privacy in response to national security concerns. It embodies the movie's critique of the surveillance state and its theme of mass monitoring in a post-9/11 world.

  • us-ident
  • surveillance
  • privacy
  • government
  • tracking
Q4

What is the Fluid Karma generator in Southland Tales?

The Fluid Karma generator is a revolutionary energy invention that promises to solve the world's energy crisis but threatens to destabilize the planet's ecosystem. It represents the film's theme of environmental catastrophe and the dangerous balance between technological advancement and environmental responsibility.

  • fluid karma
  • energy
  • technology
  • environment
  • invention
Q5

Who is Boxer Santaros?

Boxer Santaros is an action film star who suffers from amnesia and becomes the most wanted man in the city. He possesses a prophetic screenplay that could dictate humanity's future, making him a central figure in the movie's exploration of identity, destiny, and chaos.

  • boxer santaros
  • amnesia
  • action star
  • protagonist
  • screenplay
Q7

Who is Krysta Now?

Krysta Now is a former adult film star who has reinvented herself as a psychic and is creating a reality TV show. She represents the film's critique of entertainment culture and the blurring lines between reality and performance in modern society.

  • krysta now
  • adult film star
  • psychic
  • reality tv
  • entertainment
Q8

What are the main themes of Southland Tales?

The film explores three major themes: surveillance and the erosion of privacy through the US-IDent system, environmental catastrophe through the Fluid Karma generator, and identity fragmentation through the Taverner twins and Boxer Santaros's amnesia. These themes critique post-9/11 America, technology's dangers, and the loss of self in chaotic times.

  • themes
  • surveillance
  • identity
  • environment
  • post-9/11
  • critique
Q9

Why is identity important in Southland Tales?

Identity is a central theme explored through the Taverner twins, who represent duality and the struggle for individual existence, and through Boxer Santaros, whose amnesia forces him to search for his true self amid chaos. The film examines how identity becomes fragmented in a world facing collapse, questioning what defines a person when reality itself is unstable.

  • identity
  • amnesia
  • twins
  • duality
  • self
  • boxer santaros
Q10

Why is Southland Tales considered dystopian?

Southland Tales is considered dystopian because it portrays a near-future Los Angeles on the brink of chaos, featuring nuclear devastation, economic collapse, totalitarian governance, and pervasive surveillance. The film uses these elements to comment on societal fragmentation and the erosion of civil liberties in times of crisis.

  • dystopia
  • dystopian
  • societal collapse
  • los angeles
  • chaos
  • future
Q11

What is the tone of Southland Tales?

The film has a dark, satirical tone rooted in its dystopian setting, political corruption, and impending apocalypse. While dealing with heavy themes like mass destruction and existential dread, the movie filters these through a comedic and satirical lens, creating a unique blend of dark humor and social commentary.

  • tone
  • dark
  • satirical
  • comedy
  • dystopian
  • tone

Movie threads

More Movies Like Southland Tales, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Southland Tales tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Dense Dystopian Satires like Southland Tales

Complex, satirical visions of society collapsing under its own absurdities. For viewers who appreciated the chaotic, satirical world of Southland Tales, this section features movies with similar complex dystopian visions. Discover films that weave together political commentary, dark humor, and a critique of modern media, all set against a backdrop of societal collapse.

  • satirical
  • dystopian
  • chaotic
  • paranoid
  • apocalyptic
  • unsettling
  • Tone: dark, satirical
  • Pacing: variable, non-linear
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically unfold through a web of interconnected characters and convoluted plotlines, exploring grand conspiracies and systemic failures. The narrative structure is often non-linear or fragmented, mirroring the confusion and complexity of the collapsing world it portrays.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared approach to dystopia: they are not just grim forecasts but active, chaotic satires. They share a high-intensity, darkly humorous tone, a variable pacing that jumps between storylines, and a very complex structure meant to challenge and engage the viewer.

Paranoid Conspiracy Thrillers like Southland Tales

Stories where reality unravels through labyrinthine plots and existential doubt. If you enjoyed the unraveling mysteries and pervasive dread of Southland Tales, explore these paranoid conspiracy thrillers. Find movies where characters grapple with amnesia, doppelgängers, and shadowy organizations, leading to an ambiguous and mind-bending conclusion.

  • paranoid
  • conspiracy
  • unsettling
  • anxious
  • mind-bending
  • existential
  • Tone: dark, paranoid
  • Pacing: variable, tense build
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a character, often suffering from a fragmented sense of self like amnesia, who uncovers a plot so vast it challenges their perception of the world. The story escalates in confusion and scale, typically culminating in an ambiguous ending that leaves fundamental questions unanswered.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their core emotional experience: a deep, unsettling paranoia. They share a dark tone, high intensity, and heavy emotional weight centered on themes of manipulation and existential horror. The pacing is often variable, building tension through reveals that only deepen the mystery.

If you liked this

Movies Like Southland Tales

Similar movies to Southland Tales: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring Southland Tales

Southland Tales appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

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Every angle

Southland Tales (2007) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Southland Tales in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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