LAFF: Snowpiercer
/It's not very often that a film makes me physically uncomfortable. Blood, gore, horror, psychologically evil people are affecting, but rarely in a way that's viscerally upsetting. Bong Joon-Ho's Snowpiercer was so intense and claustrophobic there was a moment in the film I thought I'd need to leave and catch my breath. That's not to say I did not enjoy the movie. Quite the opposite. A bizarre, post apocalyptic vision of the future, Snowpiercer's closely intimate setting and unrelenting momentum (it does take place on a train, after all) will leave you longing for every pause and gasping for every reprieve.
It's 2031 and the last survivors of earth huddle on a train, whose walls are the only thing that protects them from the barren, unforgiving, and deadly world around them. The world ruined, after a misguided effort to end climate change. A majority of the 'population' live in the back section of the train where they are cramped in inhumane and oppressed conditions. But what choice do they have? That's how they lived in life. Amongst those is Curtis (Chris Evans) who has had enough and is ready to break free - move to the front of the train and take control of the engine. Control the engine and control the train. Receiving cryptic, one-word messages from an anonymous front of train source, Curtis mobilizes those around him to lead a revolution.
After a particularly non-gory, yet chilling, scene involving the train's chief propagandist Mason (a scene stealing Tilda Swinton) the tail end of the train springs into action - slowly and violently moving their way up the train, car-by-car, determined to confront the head. The head, the engine, is run by Mr. Wilford who created the train and its route just before the catastrophic end of nearly all mankind. He's revered, by the wealthier inhabitants, in a way brainwashed citizens revere North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. Everyone has their place in society and everyone must keep their place.
Chris Evan's, unable to rely solely on his charm, gives a commanding lead performance as he leads his fellow revolutionaries through the train. A great supporting cast that also includes Jamie Bell, John Hurt, Octavia Spencer, Ed Harris, and famous Korean actor Kang-Ho Song all do a great job using the limited space around them and easily portray people who have lived on the same train for seventeen years. Bong Joon-Ho's vision of a future earth undone by the effects of climate change is haunting. His commentary about class structure is, while on the nose, as equally haunting. The parallels to now should make anyone stand up and take notice.