The Falling (2015) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story takes place at a rural British girls' school, surrounded by forest and nature. Key locations include a majestic English oak tree that symbolizes friendship and a magical pond where pivotal moments occur. The isolated school environment creates an atmosphere of both beauty and danger.

• rural school
• british girls school
• forest
• english oak tree
• magical pond

The movie is set in 1969, during a period of significant cultural transformation and the emerging counterculture movement. This era was marked by shifting attitudes toward love, sexuality, and authority, providing a backdrop that mirrors the internal and external conflicts faced by the teenage characters.

• 1969
• 1960s
• counterculture
• historical setting

The film explores identity struggles as protagonist Lydia Lamont navigates her adolescent years feeling overshadowed by her more popular friend Abbie. The mysterious fainting epidemic serves as a metaphor for the profound emotional distress tied to self-discovery and the pressures of growing up.

• identity
• self-discovery
• adolescence
• fainting epidemic
• emotional distress

Friendship and betrayal are central to the narrative, particularly the intense bond between Lydia and Abbie. As Abbie's choices lead to estrangement, Lydia grapples with feelings of loss and abandonment. The story depicts how young relationships can intertwine love with jealousy and heartbreak.

• friendship
• betrayal
• lyydia
• abbie
• teenage relationships

Secrets and truth permeate the film as characters conceal their true feelings and past traumas. The story builds toward a climax that reveals hidden truths suppressed for years, forcing Lydia to confront her family's dark history. This theme emphasizes the importance of facing one's past to achieve closure and personal growth.

• secrets
• truth
• family secrets
• hidden past
• trauma

Lydia Lamont is a sixteen-year-old protagonist who is introspective and sensitive. She feels overshadowed by her friend Abbie's success and struggles to find her own voice. As a mysterious fainting epidemic spreads through the school, Lydia becomes determined to understand reality and confront her emotions, leading to her transformation throughout the film.

• lydia lamont
• protagonist
• main character
• teenage girl

Abbie Mortimer is Lydia's charismatic and rebellious friend with whom she shares a deep bond. She embodies the complexities of teenage life, torn between youthful exploration and personal turmoil. Abbie's decisions significantly impact those around her and ultimately lead to a tragic fate that resonates throughout Lydia's journey.

• abbie mortimer
• friend
• rebellious
• tragic character

Kenneth is Lydia's older brother, portrayed as a loner with a fascination for the occult. He maintains a protective nature toward Lydia, offering her solace amidst the chaos of their lives. His character adds depth to the narrative, showcasing the struggles of familial relationships during personal crises.

• kenneth
• brother
• occult
• family relationships
• protective

Miss Charron is a young, sympathetic art teacher who attempts to connect with Lydia during the crisis at the school. Her caring nature contrasts with other authority figures in Lydia's life, emphasizing the theme of seeking understanding. As she becomes involved in the epidemic, she symbolizes the challenges teachers face in supporting students amid chaos.

• miss charron
• teacher
• art teacher
• authority figure
• support

The rural British girls' school embodies a world filled with youthful complexities and mysteries. The isolated environment creates a crucible for emotional discovery, while the surrounding forest represents both beauty and danger, reflecting the tumultuous emotions of the adolescent characters navigating their formative years.

• school setting
• isolated environment
• thematic setting
• emotional discovery

The 1969 setting enhances the exploration of teenage rebellion and emotional turmoil through its cultural backdrop of transformation. The decade's shift in attitudes toward authority mirrors the characters' internal struggles against societal expectations, providing context for their searches for identity and truth during a period of generational change.

• 1960s culture
• teenage rebellion
• generational change
• societal expectations