The Art of Self Defense (1941): Cast & Plot

In the opening scenes, the film introduces us to Casey Davies (/actor/jesse-eisenberg), a timid and somewhat socially awkward accountant who often finds himself feeling out of place. He’s shown dining alone at a local diner, where a French couple sitting nearby engage in a curious game—they imagine what kind of person he might be, speaking in their native language, which subtly hints at the film’s themes of perception and identity. Afterward, Casey attempts to learn French on a cassette tape, learning a phrase that pleads in French not to be hurt because he’s just a tourist, foreshadowing his vulnerability throughout the story.