But as is understood in many critics circles: a story that teaches you to empathize ultimately serves you to narcissistic ends. Make no mistake, though-the novel does not shape itself via a broad redemption arc, and its tone is predominantly cynical. Upon the novel’s publication, Tomine explained to the New Yorker that the artistic shift was undertaken because it allowed him more time to understand and redeem someone so unlikable. It’s a story constructed around the epitome of a narcissistic asshole, a character Tomine invented back in the aughts when he was looking to transition from short format comic writing to longer novelizations. The source is Tomine’s graphic novel, also called “Shortcomings,” which Tomine himself has adapted for the screen. His apprehension has no-doubt been heightened by the risks laden in his project’s source material. While at Sundance introducing his new film project, Shortcomings, Park even spoke on his intense desire to be universally adored, and how this desire was at the fore of his mind when it came to reception of his feature debut. The two Asian-American artists have risen to varying degrees of prominence over the past years, and have every right to lean into a bit of their own narcissism at this stage in their careers. When it comes to films, and the characters around which films are constructed, there is bound to be a degree of inherent narcissism, but choosing to shape a film around an abhorrent narcissist, while still making that film palatable-neigh, entertaining-can be a tricky feat.Įnter actor-turned-director Randall Park, and graphic novelist-turned-screenwriter Adrian Tomine. The narcissist considers themself the main character in life’s story.
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