Falling Down is about two strong characters, D-Fens and Prendergast, who cross paths in the name of justice. Both characters seek justice in what they seek to accomplish. They are both in relationship conflicts because they have lost loved ones. Similarly, the characters get frustrated with the course of their lives. They both want to hang on to what they still have left. Although the characters are similar, there are some ways that these characters differ. D-Fens is more about taking taking the law into his own hands and Prendergast is someone that is ready to enforce the essence of the law.
D-Fens and Prendergast want to be accepted by the people around that. They want to be accepted by society and socialize normally. Their illusion of "normal" gets them into trouble. They both do not want to accept that they are past a point of return. Unlike Prendergast, D-fens is more likely to express exactly how he is feeling because of the difficulties that he's experienced.
D-Fens and his short temper put him in a postion for someone like Prendergast to enforce the law and get rid of any threat. As a law enforcer Prendergast is nothing close to the quick-tempered ways of D-fens. A criminal will not know he is doing wrong until he is forced to understand the truth. Prendergast is, interestingly enough, a person that is kind hearted and caring. He would not be able to accomplish half of the things that D-fens does.
Although these characters may seem similiar, they want to tackle their troubles on opposite sides of the law. D-fens and Predergast may both seem like they are genuinely seeking to heal their wounds, but can go about it in very different ways.
Teacher's note: Super well-organized. I like the way you paint Prendergast and D-Fens as two sides of the same coin which at the same time makes them similar and different. Brilliant! Thanks for posting. --Mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com