Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- This film dominated the Academy Awards. Why? What about the film appealed to the Academy? Why does it still remain popular today?
- Can Hannibal Lecter be considered a protagonist of this story? Is he a hero or a villain?
- Why does director Jonathan Demme employ so many close-ups? How do his camera angles show the shifting of power between Lecter and Starling and back again throughout the film?
- How many times are Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling on screen together? What do all their interactions have in common, and how is each one different?
- Why does Lecter begin to respect and admire Clarice? He says he would never kill her. Do you believe him? Does she respect or admire him?
- The Silence of the Lambs takes place in 1991. It features microfiche machines and pay phones. How has technology changed since then? What about the story would have to be different if it took place today vs. 1991? Would Buffalo Bill be easier to catch, or more difficult to catch, with advances in technology?
- Is the film easy to follow? Do you think you need to read the book to get the whole story?
- Screenwriter Ted Tally omitted the POVs of Buffalo Bill and Jack Crawford, choosing to focus on Clarice instead. Why did he do this? How would the movie have been different if he included other POVs, or chosen a different protagonist?
- In 1991, it was groundbreaking to have a female lead hero, one who can hold her own. What challenges does Clarice face because she is a woman? What characters since then do you think have been inspired by Clarice Starling?
- Buffalo Bill may be killed at the end, but Hannibal Lecter is freed. Is this a fair trade? Which killer is more dangerous, and why?