Caden Cotard

E863516

Caden Cotard is the troubled theater director protagonist of the film "Synecdoche, New York," whose obsessive attempt to recreate life through an ever-expanding stage production leads to a profound exploration of identity, mortality, and art.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fictional character
film character
appearsIn Synecdoche, New York NERFINISHED
associatedWithSetting New York NERFINISHED
belongsToGenre drama film characters
centralTo film’s exploration of time and memory
characterArcInvolves confrontation with aging and death
increasing confusion between reality and performance
obsessive pursuit of artistic authenticity
createdBy Charlie Kaufman NERFINISHED
definesSelfAs serious artist
directedBy Charlie Kaufman NERFINISHED
directs massive warehouse theater project
experiences estrangement from his daughter
marital breakdown
progressive deterioration of health
filmReleaseYearContext 2008
firstAppearance Synecdoche, New York NERFINISHED
gender male
hasChild Olive Cotard NERFINISHED
hasRelationshipWith Claire NERFINISHED
Hazel NERFINISHED
Sammy Barnathan NERFINISHED
knownFor creating an ever-expanding stage production mirroring his life
languageOfWork English
laterLivesIn New York City NERFINISHED
livesIn Schenectady, New York NERFINISHED
medium cinema
narrativeFunction vehicle for metafictional exploration of theater and life
nationality American
notableTrait existential despair
obsessive attention to detail
self-absorption
occupation theater director
portrayedBy Philip Seymour Hoffman NERFINISHED
projectLocation large New York warehouse
protagonistOf Synecdoche, New York NERFINISHED
receivesFundingFrom MacArthur Fellowship in the film
spouse Adele Lack NERFINISHED
storyBeginsWith directing a regional theater production of Death of a Salesman
suffersFrom anxiety
depression
various physical ailments
symbolicallyAssociatedWith Cotard’s syndrome NERFINISHED
themeExploredThrough art
identity
mortality

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Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Synecdoche, New York mainCharacter Caden Cotard