OVERLAY REPORT

The main character of the 2022 film *Bullet Train* is **Ladybug**, a seasoned but "unlucky" American assassin portrayed by **Brad Pitt**. After a period of soul-searching and therapy, Ladybug returns to the field with a new, pacifist outlook on life. His handler, Maria Beetle (Sandra Bullock), assigns him what should be a simple "snatch and grab" mission: retrieve a briefcase from a high-speed train traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto. However, his mission is complicated by his belief that he is a magnet for disaster and the presence of multiple other assassins with conflicting objectives. ### **Key Character Traits** Ladybug is defined by the irony of being a highly skilled killer who desperately wants to resolve conflict through "non-violent communication" and mindfulness. He frequently quotes his therapist, Barry, and tries to maintain a Zen-like composure even as he is forced to use laptop cases, water bottles, and kitchen utensils to fight for his life. ### **Most Memorable Lines and Their Context** * **"My bad luck is biblical."** This line, spoken early in the film to his handler Maria, establishes Ladybug’s core conflict. He believes the universe is actively conspiring against him, noting that even when he isn’t *trying* to kill people, they tend to die around him. * **"Let this be a lesson in the toxicity of anger."** Ladybug says this after a particularly violent or chaotic encounter. It highlights his hilariously misplaced attempt to apply self-help philosophy to a high-stakes life-or-death struggle. * **"Hurt people hurt people."** A classic bit of "therapy-speak," Ladybug uses this line to rationalize the aggression of the other assassins on the train, such as Lemon and Tangerine, treating their attempts to kill him as a mental health crisis rather than a professional hit. * **"Eat a bag of d**ks, lady! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m working on it."** This occurs during the "Quiet Car" fight sequence. After a passenger shushes him during a brutal struggle with the assassin Lemon, Ladybug momentarily loses his Zen composure and snaps, only to immediately apologize and remind himself of his personal growth. * **"You put peace out into the world, you get peace back."** This serves as Ladybug's mantra. The humor stems from the fact that despite his efforts to "put peace out," he is repeatedly met with guns, knives, and explosions. ### **Specific Detail: The Symbolism of "Ladybug"** A pivotal moment of character depth occurs during his conversation with **The Elder** (Hiroyuki Sanada). The Elder explains that in Japan, the ladybug (*Tentoumushi*) is not considered "lucky" in the traditional sense. Instead, it is believed that the ladybug carries the **"Seven Sorrows"** of the world on its back so that others may live in peace. This detail recontextualizes Ladybug’s entire arc: his "bad luck" isn't a curse, but a form of protection for those around him. By the end of the film, he begins to accept that he isn't just a victim of fate, but a necessary "agent of fate" who survives the train's wreckage because he was meant to carry that burden.