Character Study: Mikal

 CHARACTER STUDY:   MIKAL

In this post I'm going to go into more detail on the female lead, Mikal, from the movie Wristcutters: A Love Stor. Mikal is played by actress Shannyn Sossamon and stars alongside Patrick Fugit as Zia. My first attraction to this film was that Shannyn Sossamon was in a starring role as I have had a girl crush on her for some time.  Ever since first being introduced to Shannyn Sossamon as the avant garde princess in A Knight's Tale, I've had a major woman crush on her. So much so that during my sophomore year of college, I regrettably took a pair of dull hair scissors and tried to personally cut my hair into the cute, shaggy, grown-out pixie that Shannyn often sports. This had me looking like a Dutch boy for well over six months. I've learned my lesson, however, that doesn't stop me from admiring and appreciating Shannyn's unique beauty and consequently watching her films. 

Shannyn's style inevitably ends up being portrayed through Mikal as well. With her shaggy hair and minimal makeup, Mikal is the perfect mix between feminine and punk with elements reminiscent of
the 90s. She oftens dresses down dresses by pairing it with boots, leggings, and a jacket. She is also seen in classic button up shirt that evokes a hipster quality.  

The color scheme of this movie is a  pale sky blue, cherry red, white, brown, and dusky purple. Shannyn is often seen in a bright red jacket paired with a lacy white dress, a ginham green and white dress, while Zia is wearing blue throughout the film. 

Mikal is a very interesting character in the film as her whole story focuses around the fact that she has ended up in the afterlife by mistake. Everyone in the afterlife has committed suicide and therefore had given up on life. That is not the case for Mikal. She talks about how she misses life and her family and friends. The fact that she is always 'fixing' and stealing signs shows her character adding lightheartedness and happiness to the afterlife and Zia's life. I believe that her style and personality excellently display her attitude toward life and her affect on Zia's life.