Who is Faramir in the movie?
Captain Faramir is the son of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, and Boromir’s brother. Faramir and his men guard in Ithillien and they have a secret location in Henneth Annûn. Faramir meets Frodo and Sam on their way to Mordor and takes them with him to Henneth Annûn and then to Osgiliath. Faramir’s character is pretty dark; he’s a stern, suspicious leader and doesn’t show much of his nicer side.

Who is Faramir in the book?
Faramir is Captain of Gondor, the son of the Steward Denethor II, and the brother of Boromir of Gondor. Faramir leads the Rangers of Ithillien and they have a hidden refuge behind a waterfall in Henneth Annûn. Faramir meets Frodo and Sam on their way to Mordor and takes them with him to Henneth Annûn. Faramir is a wise and careful leader and mostly a kind and understanding man.

Changes in the Two Towers

From kind and careful to hard and suspicious. From understanding to doubt. From refusal to desire. Two different Faramir’s and the difference between them is quite significant. This is one of the most noticeable changes for the audience in the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy and the writers have explained their point of view about the change many times. The writers wanted a proper ending for the journey of Frodo and Sam and needed tension to their situation, so they put Faramir as an obstacle for the hobbits’ journey. The writers also felt it would seem unconvincing if Faramir isn’t tempted at all by this evil treacherous Ring that almost everyone else has desired so far. They wanted Faramir’s character to go through some development before he’s ready to let Frodo go with the Ring. So in the end this change is pretty much a film technical issue; changes had to be made for the plot and drama.

Introduction
The change in Faramir is seen in the film immediately when he first meets Frodo and Sam in Ithillien. Faramir is introduced as a stern, suspicious leader and Faramir and his men don’t treat Frodo and Sam kindly or very carefully stopping them and making sure they can’t escape. Faramir only shortly speaks to the hobbits and they head forth very urgently. In the book Faramir feels much more kind and patient man but the same time he’s wisely careful with the hobbits. The Rangers don’t keep the hobbits with force and before making any conclusions they stay to find out who the strangers are and why they are in Ithillien.

From easy refusal…
In the book Faramir has quite long discussions with Frodo and he learns quite a bit about him and his journey although Faramir is mostly interested in Isildur’s bane and how Boromir is connected to it. He has time to develop an idea about Frodo and the events and make a conclusion that Frodo is carrying something that connects to Dark Lord and Faramir doesn’t want to make use of that kind of thing. When Sam accidentally reveals Frodo is actually carrying the One Ring, Faramir says “So that is answer to all the riddles! The One Ring that was thought to have perished from the world. And Boromir tried to take it by force? And you escaped? And ran all the way – to me! And here in the wild I have you, two Halflings, and a host of men at my call, and the Ring of Rings. A pretty stroke of fortune! A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality!” [4.V.]
But without any interest towards the Ring Faramir doesn’t want to know more because he has already promised he wouldn’t take it. He says the hobbits can go freely but he’s concerned about Gollum and the route where his taking the hobbits. Finally giving some food for the journey Faramir sends the group on their way with the good will of all good men. During his time with the hobbits Faramir gets to know them a little bit and he treats Frodo and Sam nicely all the time they are together. Faramir is kind and quite understanding towards the hobbits still maintaining a firm, careful attitude the same time.

…to showing his quality to daddy.
In the film however Faramir is being told these strangers are orc spies and we see only a short discussion between Frodo and Faramir where they mostly talk about Boromir’s fate. When Faramir finds out about the Ring he says “So this is the answer to all the riddles. Here in the Wild I have you, two Halflings and a host of men at my call. And the Ring of Power within my grasp. A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor to show his quality.” He is obviously tempted by the Ring and he decides that the Ring and the hobbits will go to Gondor. But Faramir seems to have his reasons to make this decision. Earlier we saw Faramir having a flashback where Boromir celebrates a victory in Osgiliath and the scene gave an idea about the relationships in the family. Denethor’s favourite son is clearly Boromir and he doesn’t seem to respect Faramir at all. In Osgiliath Denethor also says something that now clearly connects Faramir’s decision to his father. On top of that Faramir doesn’t know enough about the hobbits and their journey so under the circumstances he has in the film, he acts logically.

In Osgiliath Faramir tells his men to take the hobbits to his father and say “Faramir sends a mighty gift”. But after seeing an incident with the Ring, Frodo and Sam, Faramir finally understands how evil the Ring is and he lets the hobbits go. He guides them out of the city but he’s concerned that Gollum is taking them to Minas Morgul. Frodo says he has no choise but to go so Faramir sends them on their way with the good will of all Men. Having the hobbits more like captives in the film Faramir really isn’t interested in learning anything about the hobbits, he isn’t very kind to them and he treats Frodo and Sam quite suspiciously the whole time. A small sign of insecure is seen a couple of times but only when he realizes that the Ring only has the power to destroy, he understands Frodo and starts acting kindly towards the hobbits.

Faramir’s role
In the book Faramir’s part was to offer refuge and friendship during the hobbits’ journey; they were his guests. In the movie Faramir’s part was to be an obstacle for the hobbits’ journey; they were his prisoners. His whole role is different and making this change the writers brought Faramir quite far from the original idea of him. In the book there are only a few things that could resemble the Faramir in the film. A couple of times it’s said that Faramir smiles or laughs ‘grimly’ and when he first questions Frodo his face is ‘stern’ and ‘commanding’ and there’s ‘doubt in his eyes’. Sam also thinks that the questioning of Frodo seems like ‘a trial of a prisoner’ and first Faramir has doubt towards Frodo’s tale. When Faramir finds out about the Ring Faramir speaks ‘slowly and very softly, with a strange smile’ and ‘he stood up, very tall and stern, his grey eyes glinting’. [4.V.]

But apart from these few things the general idea of Faramir remains friendly and there’s nothing that would refer to Faramir being affected by the Ring. But the writers needed tension to the film and a kind understanding man not affected by the Ring doesn’t bring tension. It cannot be said if the writers could have kept Faramir in the movie closer to the book but on the other hand apart from a short moment being tempted by the Ring Faramir actually doesn’t want the Ring to himself but wants to send it to his father. And also, in the end Faramir makes the same decision as in the book; he lets Frodo and Sam go with the Ring. The audience is left with an idea of a noble and kind man doing the right thing. Despite of the different roles Faramir has the final outcome is the same in the book and in the movie; Faramir just takes a different path before making his decision.

Mistakes
– Faramir has black hair, not brown.
– In the book also Faramir’s face is masked when he meets Frodo and Sam.
– In the book Faramir denies his men to bind the hobbits’ hands.
– It’s at least weird that in the movie Faramir doesn’t introduce himself properly to the hobbits at any point. Even the audience learns his name quite late; when one of his men comes to tell they’ve found Gollum. The hobbits don’t hear his name until Faramir says “A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor…” Lapse or deliberate but in the book he does introduce himself.

Bookie details
– In the movie Faramir recalls a vision, or a dream, of his dead brother passing by in an elvish boat. The vision is the same Faramir tells to the hobbits and it also looks the same as it’s described in the book.