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Things Behind the Sun (2001) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Things Behind the Sun (2001) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2001 · 120 min · English
JustWatch #10,167 10
Directed by
Allison Anders
Starring
Kim Dickens

A young music journalist’s buried memories resurface when he interviews a rock singer. As they delve into the past, both are forced to confront disturbing secrets and the painful truths they’re been trying to escape. The experience challenges their present and forces them to reckon with the shadows of their shared history.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  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 Things Behind the Sun
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Things Behind the Sun (2001)

Where can you watch Things Behind the Sun? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Fawesome and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Things Behind the Sun Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Things Behind the Sun (2001), 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.

  • Owen

    Owen is a complex individual burdened by guilt and memories of his past. As a music reporter, he is driven not just by professional ambition, but also by a deep-seated need for redemption. His character arc is one of courage as he confronts his brother and takes a stand for the victims.

    • 📰 Reporter
    • 🛠️ Guilt
    • ⚖️ Justice
  • Sherry

    Sherry embodies resilience and haunting beauty through her music, which serves as an expression of her traumatic past. While strained by shared history with Owen, she represents hope and the possibility of healing. Her character highlights the emotional toll of trauma and the power of art as a coping mechanism.

    • 🎶 Musician
    • 🌈 Resilience
    • 📜 Survivor
  • Dan

    Dan is portrayed as the antagonist whose heinous actions have reverberated through the lives of others. His character presents a chilling reminder of the capacity for evil, and his confrontation with Owen serves as a climactic moment of confrontation and accountability.

    • 🚫 Criminal
    • 👁️ Intimidator
    • 🔒 Unrepentant

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:05

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Setting

Where and When Does Things Behind the Sun Take Place?

The setting of Things Behind the Sun (2001): 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

The events of the movie seem modern, dealing with issues like past trauma and the quest for justice in a contemporary social context. The narrative weaves through Owen's past and present, highlighting the enduring effects of childhood experiences on adult life.

Location

Los Angeles, Florida

Los Angeles serves as the bustling backdrop for Owen's career as a music reporter, representing ambition and the glitz of the entertainment industry. In contrast, Florida represents his roots and the haunting memories of his childhood, where personal demons and history collide.

  • 🌆 City
  • 🌴 Tropics

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:05

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3 major themes

Things Behind the Sun Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Things Behind the Sun (2001) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Redemption

    The theme of redemption is central to Owen's journey as he seeks to confront his past and uncover the truth about his brother's crimes. His quest reflects a deep desire not only to redeem himself but also to seek justice for Sherry and the other victims. The narrative illustrates how confronting the past can lead to growth and healing.

  • Truth

    Truth is a pivotal theme, as Owen wrestles with his complicity in the horrors inflicted by his brother. His decision to reveal the truth not only serves his need for catharsis but also seeks to bring justice to those affected. This quest emphasizes the importance of honesty and accountability in confronting trauma.

  • Trauma

    Trauma pervades the story, reflecting its lasting impact on both Owen and Sherry. As past traumas resurface through flashbacks, they shape the characters' lives and their interactions. The film explores how unresolved trauma affects relationships and the journey towards healing.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:05

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Character & theme questions

Things Behind the Sun Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Things Behind the Sun (2001): 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

What cities does the story take place in?

The movie contrasts two main locations: Los Angeles, where Owen works as a music journalist and pursues his career in the entertainment industry, and Florida, where his traumatic childhood memories are rooted. These settings represent the tension between his present-day ambition and his haunting past.

  • los angeles
  • florida
  • setting
  • locations
  • california
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The movie takes place in modern, contemporary times. It deals with current issues like past trauma, the quest for justice, and the lasting effects of childhood experiences on adult life.

  • time period
  • modern
  • contemporary
  • era
Q3

What are the main themes in the movie?

The movie explores three core themes: redemption, as Owen seeks to confront his past and seek justice for victims; truth, as he wrestles with his complicity and chooses honesty over suppression; and trauma, which shapes the characters' lives and relationships throughout the narrative.

  • themes
  • redemption
  • truth
  • trauma
  • meaning
Q4

Who is Owen in the movie?

Owen is a music journalist burdened by guilt over his brother's crimes. His career in Los Angeles represents his attempt to build a new life, but he is driven by a deep need for redemption as he confronts his past and seeks justice for the victims.

  • owen
  • protagonist
  • music journalist
  • character
Q5

Who is Sherry in the movie?

Sherry is a rock singer who embodies resilience and uses her music to express her traumatic past. She represents hope and the possibility of healing, having shared a history with Owen that shapes their complicated relationship.

  • sherry
  • rock singer
  • survivor
  • character
Q6

Who is Dan in the movie?

Dan is Owen's brother and the antagonist whose crimes have devastated multiple lives. His actions serve as the central trauma that drives the story, and his confrontation with Owen represents the movie's climactic moment of accountability.

  • dan
  • antagonist
  • brother
  • villain
Q7

How does the movie handle redemption?

Redemption centers on Owen's journey to confront his brother's crimes and seek justice for Sherry and other victims. His decision to face the truth reflects his desire for personal growth and healing, showing how confronting the past can lead to redemption.

  • redemption
  • justice
  • healing
  • growth
Q8

What role does truth play in the story?

Truth is crucial as Owen struggles with his complicity in his brother's crimes. Choosing to reveal the truth becomes his path to catharsis and accountability, emphasizing how honesty is essential in confronting trauma.

  • truth
  • honesty
  • accountability
  • confession
Q9

How does the movie depict trauma?

The film shows trauma as a lasting force that shapes characters' lives and relationships. Through flashbacks, past traumas resurface and affect present-day interactions, exploring how unresolved trauma impacts healing and connection.

  • trauma
  • ptsd
  • memory
  • emotional damage
Q10

What do the different locations represent thematically?

Los Angeles represents ambition, the glitz of the entertainment industry, and Owen's attempt to escape his past. Florida represents his roots and the haunting memories of his childhood where his brother's crimes occurred, symbolizing where personal demons and history collide.

  • symbolism
  • setting
  • los angeles
  • florida
  • world
Q11

What is the overall tone and emotional feel of the movie?

The movie has a dark, serious tone focused on suppressed trauma and violent crime. While intense and heavy, it is not entirely hopeless as it culminates in a confrontation for justice. The ending is bittersweet, Owen achieves some redemption but at a significant emotional cost.

  • tone
  • mood
  • emotional
  • dark
  • heavy

Movie threads

More Movies Like Things Behind the Sun, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about confronting buried trauma like Things Behind the Sun

Stories where characters are forced to face long-suppressed, painful memories. If you were drawn to the difficult process of uncovering the past in Things Behind the Sun, you'll find similar stories here. These movies explore characters grappling with suppressed memories and traumatic events, often leading to a painful but necessary reckoning. They share a heavy emotional weight and a focus on psychological recovery.

  • traumatic
  • reflective
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • anguished
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, somber, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically involve a catalyst that forces a character to revisit a repressed traumatic event. The story unfolds through a mix of present-day struggles and disturbing flashbacks, building towards a climax where the truth must be acknowledged. The journey is less about action and more about internal psychological conflict and emotional catharsis.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core focus on the process of remembering and confronting severe psychological trauma. They create a similar mood of somber reflection and tense unease, often utilizing a steady pace to methodically peel back layers of denial and pain, resulting in a deeply affecting viewing experience.

Movies with bittersweet reckonings like Things Behind the Sun

Journeys where facing harsh truths leads to a complex, bittersweet resolution. For viewers who appreciated the difficult but necessary resolution in Things Behind the Sun, this thread collects movies where confronting the past leads to a bittersweet ending. These stories offer a measure of justice or peace that is deeply intertwined with loss and trauma, creating a powerful and emotionally resonant conclusion.

  • bittersweet
  • heavy
  • somber
  • redemptive
  • melancholic
  • cathartic
  • Tone: dark, bittersweet, redemptive
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a central conflict rooted in past wrongdoing or trauma. The protagonist's journey forces a confrontation that leads to a form of justice, redemption, or truth. However, the victory is tempered by the enduring scars of the experience. The ending acknowledges the progress made while honoring the pain that was endured, resulting in a feeling of sober acceptance rather than jubilation.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their shared emotional trajectory: a heavy, intense journey that resolves into a bittersweet conclusion. They balance dark, serious themes with a glimmer of hard-won closure, creating a specific and powerful emotional mix. The pacing is often steady, allowing the weight of the reckoning to fully settle.

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Every angle

Things Behind the Sun (2001) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Things Behind the Sun 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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