Soul Story Analysis: “The Line of Desire”

So, this is a bit different from what I normally do. In most of my posts, I pick out one scene that especially stood out in a movie/show, and then geek out about it in my own little way. But Soul was, well… different.

I really loved this movie. And nearly every scene that came up was one that I felt was worth geeking out over. And though I can always pick any of these scenes and act like it was the most affecting moment of the film, I want to use this post to highlight exactly what pulled me into this movie and allowed me a massive insight into my craft as a writer.

See, a maxim often offered to writers is that they should give their character a clear want. And I mean, this sounds easy enough, right? “My character wants a promotion at work.” Perfect. Now make a movie where the character is trying and failing to get a promotion.

Chances are this desire is good for a couple of scenes. Maybe, even, a full sequence or two. But if your character’s desire is to get a promotion, there are only so many ways to show your character go after that and fail before it gets boring or redundant.

And this is what Soul does so spectacularly. From the very beginning, it’s clear that Joe wants to become a recognized jazz musician. Rather than craft the film about Joe constantly trying and failing and trying and failing to get this goal, the film takes a different route. It’s one that’s creative, inspiring, and above all else… simple.

Without spoiling the film (which you should definitely watch), I’ll just outline what the first act entails, and maybe there’s an evident pattern here…

Where To Watch: Disney+

Where To Read: https://deadline.com/2021/01/soul-script-pete-docter-kemp-powers-mike-jones-read-the-screenplay-1234678061/

Written By: Pete Docter, Kemp Powers, Mike Jones

Here’s how the first act plays out:

• Joe wants to be an acclaimed jazz musician. How will he do that?
• Joe will perform with Dorothea Williams. Right after getting the opportunity, he dies. What will he do now?
• Joe needs to get back to his body, which means he will need to get an “earth pass”. How will he get an earth pass?
• He will need to help 22 find her ‘spark’. If she finds her spark, he can use her earth pass to return to his body!

Why Does This Work?

It is Natural: Because each new goal stems from the original goal, the plot moves along in a way that never feels forced. Joe’s motivation doesn’t randomly switch at any point, which means that we’re not given any distracting elements which make us forget Joe’s plight. Even when the introduction of the new soul-filled world is given, Joe’s desire to return to his body and perform with Dorothea is entirely evident.

It Feels Important: Joe’s quest to become the next great jazz musician is wonderfully well-established throughout this first act in a number of intriguing and engaging ways. We see him get lost in the flow of his music, recognize the intense passion he feels regarding jazz, and ultimately acknowledge that jazz is exactly what he’s meant live for. As a result, we are right there with Joe in his want to return to his body and fulfill his life purpose! (Here’s a wonderful video essay that better documents how the writers accomplish this specific goal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM3IQFgP-d8)

It is Tangible: One of the smartest things done in this movie is the implementation of the “earth pass”. This allows the otherwise abstract goal of helping 22 find her spark feel wonderfully concrete and traceable. We can now physically see how close Joe is to his goal because of this tool. If there’s an earth pass, he’s successful! If not, he needs to keep trying. It also makes the earth pass a wonderfully unique object that serves as both symbol and Macguffin. To achieve it is a symbolic victory for 22, but like any Macguffin, retains practical plot effect for Joe.

It Services the Overall Desire: Every single goal is formed so Joe can achieve his main goal — to perform with Dorothea Williams. Throughout this act, and the entire film, this is his key desire, and so every action he takes is done with that goal in mind. It allows this otherwise complex and brain-churning film a concise focus that doesn’t get lost in needless scenes. Through this first act, a ton of things are thrown at the audience, but we’re able to take them all in stride because, no matter what, Joe’s desire doesn’t change. As a result, we know what is, and what isn’t, important to the main story.

In Summary…

This first act resembles exactly the same structure the writers use throughout the film. Joe will keep being put in extraordinary situations that force him to learn new rules and try new ways of achieving his goal- yet his goal does not change. In simple terms… everything around Joe changes except for his goal. Rather, he’s given what are effectively sub-goals. In order to accomplish his main goal, he will need to accomplish these sub-goals. This means getting back to his body, which means getting an earth pass, which means helping 22 find her spark, which means…

You get the idea. Give the character a key desire, and have every obstacle set them back in a way that means they have to work harder for them to achieve their key desire. This is, again, stupidly simple in concept, yet in my experience, it’s one of the most difficult things to accomplish in practice.

Watching Soul was worthwhile for a ton of reasons, and if you haven’t seen it yet, I can’t seem to recommend watching it enough. It’s heartwarming, honest, and considers topics that are rarely talked about in accessible forms. These complex topics are broached with astonishing ease by the perfectly clear desire line which provokes a brilliant narrative that, personally, reminded me exactly how powerful and affecting storytelling can be.