3) Dwayne in Little Miss Sunshine
In a way, the vow of silence taken by Paul Dano’s character Dwayne in Little Miss Sunshine is a simple narrative gimmick designed to reflect the stakes and tension that build up until they reach a boiling point. It’s as if the whole movie is geared toward our expectation that at some point he has to speak. Previous characters like Chief in Cuckoo’s Nest have taught us to expect this. And so when he finally does break his vow with a string of profanities, it’s like a sweet release for all of us.
It also reflects the tension in the rest of the story involving a family whose dynamic is spiraling out of control in the same way their rusty old van is barely functioning. But Dwayne’s silence possesses some additional worth in that it kind of really accurately depicts the angst and frustration that comes along with adolescence, as well as the disillusionment and despair that can often result from the loss of childhood innocence and hopes and dreams and everything.
He has this ideal scenario set out for himself that’s represented by the discipline of not speaking, and then a little crappy curveball life throws at him throws off all his plans, resulting in a break in his silence. But in the end he finds his voice again, and we get the sense that he’ll be able to adapt, as most teenagers learn to do, and things will be relatively ok.