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The Lost City of Z (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Lost City of Z (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 141 min · English
JustWatch #2,679 48
Directed by
James Gray
Starring
Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Charlie Hunnam, Sienna Miller

Driven by a fascination with ancient civilizations, British explorer Percy Fawcett journeys into the Amazon rainforest in the early 20th century. He discovers intriguing evidence suggesting the existence of a lost city, challenging the established scientific consensus. Determined to prove his theory, Fawcett leads a dangerous expedition into the uncharted territory, accompanied by his devoted wife, son, and a loyal aide. Their perilous quest is fueled by a relentless desire for discovery and a commitment to revealing the jungle's hidden wonders.

On this page (7)
  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 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Lost City of Z (2017)

Where can you watch The Lost City of Z? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video Free and FlixFling: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

The Lost City of Z Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Lost City of Z (2017), 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.

  • Percy Fawcett (Tom Holland)

    Percy Fawcett is a determined explorer driven by a desire for recognition and discovery. His ambition often puts him at odds with others, as he struggles to balance his adventurous spirit with familial responsibilities.

    • 🏇 Explorer
    • 📜 Ambitious
  • Nina Fawcett (Sienna Miller)

    Nina Fawcett is a supportive yet strong-willed wife who embodies resilience amidst her husband's relentless pursuits. She plays a crucial role in fueling Percy's ambitions while managing the emotional burdens of family life.

    • 👩‍👧‍👦 Mother
    • 💪 Supportive
  • Corporal Henry Costin

    A seasoned navigator of the jungle, Corporal Henry Costin provides Fawcett with invaluable experience and insight. His pragmatic approach contrasts with Fawcett's ambitious vision, highlighting the challenges of exploration.

    • 🤝 Loyal partner
    • 🌲 Navigator
  • Jack Fawcett

    Jack Fawcett is Percy's estranged son, harboring resentment towards his father's quests. Their complicated relationship adds emotional depth to the story as they seek reconciliation during tumultuous times.

    • 👦 Son
    • ⚔️ War survivor

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:36

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Setting

Where and When Does The Lost City of Z Take Place?

The setting of The Lost City of Z (2017): 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

1905-1923

The movie spans from 1905 to 1923, a period marked by exploration and colonial ambition. This era saw increased interest in the Amazon and its resources, coinciding with the tumultuous events of World War I, which also impacted the characters' lives significantly.

Location

Irish baronial estate, London, Brazil, Amazon rainforest

The story begins in an Irish baronial estate, known for its picturesque landscapes and historical significance. London serves as the bustling heart of British society, where important governmental decisions transpire. The journey then leads to Brazil, particularly the Amazon rainforest, famous for its rich biodiversity and the mysteries it hides.

  • 🏰 Estate
  • 🌍 Cities
  • 🌳 Jungle

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:36

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3 major themes

The Lost City of Z Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Lost City of Z (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Loss

    The theme of loss permeates the narrative, as Fawcett grapples with personal and professional setbacks. The emotional weight of his strained relationship with his son Jack, coupled with the tragedies of war, highlights the sacrifices made in pursuit of ambition.

  • Exploration

    Exploration is a central theme, illustrating humanity's insatiable curiosity about the unknown. Fawcett's journey into uncharted territories symbolizes both the literal and metaphorical search for truth and understanding, illuminating the delicate balance between adventure and peril.

  • Nature

    Nature plays a pivotal role in shaping the characters' destinies. The breathtaking yet dangerous Amazon rainforest serves as both a setting and a character itself, reflecting the untamed spirit of exploration and the often-overlooked wisdom of indigenous cultures.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:36

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Character & theme questions

The Lost City of Z Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Lost City of Z (2017): 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 the movie set?

The story spans multiple locations, beginning at an Irish baronial estate and moving through London, the heart of British society. The main setting is the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, where Percy Fawcett conducts his expeditions into uncharted territory.

  • amazon rainforest
  • brazil
  • london
  • settings
  • locations
Q2

What time period does the movie cover?

The movie takes place between 1905 and 1923, a period defined by exploration and colonial ambition. This era coincides with World War I, which significantly impacts the characters' lives and interrupts Fawcett's expeditions.

  • 1905
  • 1923
  • time period
  • world war i
  • early 20th century
Q3

Why is the Amazon rainforest important to the story?

The Amazon serves as both the primary setting and almost a character itself. The rainforest is depicted as breathtaking yet dangerous, filled with rich biodiversity and mysteries. It represents the ultimate unknown, challenging explorers and reflecting the untamed spirit of discovery.

  • amazon rainforest
  • jungle
  • danger
  • exploration
  • untamed
Q4

Who is Percy Fawcett?

Percy Fawcett is a British explorer driven by a deep fascination with ancient civilizations and a relentless desire for recognition. His ambition to prove the existence of a lost city in the Amazon puts him at odds with the scientific establishment and often conflicts with his familial responsibilities.

  • percy fawcett
  • explorer
  • explorer
  • motivation
  • ambition
Q5

Who is Nina Fawcett and what is her role?

Nina Fawcett is Percy's wife, portrayed as a supportive yet strong-willed woman who embodies resilience. She fuels Percy's ambitions while managing the emotional burdens of family life, standing by him through years of dangerous expeditions and personal hardship.

  • nina fawcett
  • wife
  • support
  • resilience
  • family
Q6

Who is Jack Fawcett?

Jack Fawcett is Percy's son, whose relationship with his father is complicated by years of neglect due to Percy's obsessive expeditions. Jack harbors resentment toward his father's quests but ultimately seeks reconciliation, adding emotional depth to the narrative.

  • jack fawcett
  • son
  • father son relationship
  • resentment
Q7

Who is Henry Costin?

Corporal Henry Costin is a seasoned jungle navigator who provides Percy Fawcett with invaluable experience and insight into the Amazon. His pragmatic, grounded approach contrasts with Fawcett's ambitious vision, highlighting the practical challenges of exploration.

  • henry costin
  • navigator
  • jungle
  • guide
  • supporting character
Q8

What does the movie say about exploration?

Exploration is the central theme, illustrating humanity's insatiable curiosity about the unknown. Fawcett's journey into uncharted territories symbolizes both a literal and metaphorical search for truth, highlighting the delicate balance between adventure and peril.

  • exploration
  • discovery
  • unknown
  • adventure
  • peril
Q9

How does nature feature in the movie?

Nature plays a pivotal role in shaping the characters' destinies. The Amazon rainforest is depicted as both beautiful and treacherous, reflecting the untamed spirit of exploration and the often-overlooked wisdom of indigenous cultures that inhabit it.

  • nature
  • amazon
  • indigenous
  • beauty
  • danger
Q10

What role does loss play in the story?

Loss permeates the narrative as Fawcett grapples with personal and professional setbacks. The emotional weight centers on his strained relationship with his son Jack, coupled with the tragedies of war, highlighting the sacrifices made in pursuit of ambition.

  • loss
  • sacrifice
  • war
  • father son relationship
  • setbacks
Q11

Is the movie based on a true story?

Yes, The Lost City of Z is based on the real-life British explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared in the Amazon in 1925 while searching for an ancient lost city. The movie dramatizes his expeditions and family life, blending historical fact with narrative interpretation.

  • true story
  • historical
  • percy fawcett
  • real explorer
  • disappearance

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Lost City of Z, by Mood & Story

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

Obsessive historical quests like in The Lost City of Z

Driven individuals risk everything to pursue a world-changing discovery. If you liked The Lost City of Z, explore more movies about driven explorers and pioneers risking everything on obsessive quests. These historical dramas and epics share a tense, atmospheric tone and a focus on the human cost of monumental discovery.

  • obsessive
  • atmospheric
  • determined
  • somber
  • methodical
  • historic
  • Tone: tense, somber, determined
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories follow a linear but expansive timeline, chronicling a character's lifelong dedication to a goal. The central conflict is often the quest itself, pitting human ambition against impossible environments, societal skepticism, and personal sacrifice. The emotional journey is one of escalating obsession and the heavy price of ambition.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a character's all-consuming drive, the historical or epic scale of their journey, and the atmospheric, often somber tone that results from a dangerous, prolonged mission with uncertain outcomes.

Journeys into dangerous landscapes like The Lost City of Z

Where the environment itself is a formidable and immersive character. Find movies similar to The Lost City of Z that feature immersive and perilous journeys into untamed environments. If you liked the Amazon's pervasive threat and atmosphere, these stories use their settings as a primary force of tension and discovery.

  • atmospheric
  • adventurous
  • tense
  • immersive
  • perilous
  • vast
  • Tone: tense, atmospheric, adventurous
  • Pacing: steady, immersive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative structure is a journey of survival and exploration, where progress is measured against the unforgiving nature of the setting. The plot is driven by environmental challenges that test the crew's resilience, unity, and sanity. The landscape is not just a backdrop but an active antagonist or catalyst for transformation.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films where the setting is a dominant feature, creating a specific, immersive mood of tension and wonder. The shared experience is one of being transported into a vast, dangerous, and beautifully rendered world that dictates the story's pace and stakes.

Every angle

The Lost City of Z (2017) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Lost City of Z in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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