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Have you ever wondered whether we live in a fair world? Probably yes... everything around us provides us with constant examples of how injustice is an inherent feature of our society, from history to the news, to the streets of our own cities.
Social classes have always been present in almost all civilizations throughout our history, and they have undoubtedly brought both advantages and disadvantages. I honestly cannot say whether they are wrong or not, whether there is a better and more equitable way to organize our society... perhaps yes, but I believe that a certain hierarchical structure is necessary to make decisions and run an organization.
Then the situation becomes problematic when too much power is concentrated in the hands of a few people, this causes too wide differences between social strata, which in the course of time become more and more amplified...
Snowpiercer tries to describe this situation and even if not directly tries to give a solution...
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" Now, as in the beginning, I belong to the front. You belong to the tail. When the foot seeks the place of the head, the sacred line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.”
This idea explains the Snowpiercer's enforcement of an eternal order, which Mason, the vice-commander of the train, repeatedly reinforced to the "parasites" in the last few carriages. The socioeconomic pyramid and the inescapable separation of classes are represented by the Snowpiercer. Eighty percent of the world's population is represented by those in the back of the train, who are compelled to live in poverty, endure hunger, and work long hours. On the other side, the members of the head are comparable to the 20% of the population that has unfettered access to all forms of riches and luxury.
Mr. Wilford can be connected to a despotic government that controls and subjugates its citizens while robbing them of every freedom and security. He can represent a monopolistic market, too, which does not ensure an equitable distribution of resources. Mason's persona stands in for the police forces of a totalitarian society, which in both the movie and real life are tasked with suppressing those troublesome people whose beliefs differ from those of authority. People like Curtis represent all the revolutionaries who have attempted to overthrow an authoritarian and antiquated political system throughout history, along with the other members of the lower classes.
Can there be no true change? Is it really true that the highest aspiration one can have is a controlled explosion of group rage that eventually restores old vices with new names?
While responding to this question, Bong Joon-ho always places the concept of free will—the understanding that all people are created equal, but that only some have the ability to affect change—at the core of his response. By choice, charisma, or because history has obligated them to. And, regrettably, only a few can penetrate the wall of self-interest, flattery, egocentrism, and resignation that transforms rebels into normalizers, and from normalizers, new dictators.
Snowpiercer tryes to provide a solution: dismantle the train, go beyond it, and leave the tracks, for they lead only to an endless cycle of moving toward what has already been seen.
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The very distinctive approach of the South Korean director combines fantastical metaphor with violent realism, which becomes more intense as the rebels climb the train cars near the locomotive. This is controlled by the enigmatic Mr. Wilford, a benefactor/tyrant (he created the train), who never appears and speaks by intercom. A character who has Wizard of Oz characteristics but who ultimately proves to be much more ambiguous and dangerous.
The story expertly switches between several narrative archetypes, from Noah's ark (with glaciers instead of a flood) to the predestined hero. The obvious anti-capitalist interpretation of a poor-versus-rich battle is only the beginning point and most definitely not the entire one.
Snowpiercer has beautifully shot action scenes (which avoid continuous cuts and follow the characters to make us understand what's going on), a plot with several twists and turns that work from beginning to end (each new carriage is a story in itself), multi-faceted protagonists and antagonists who are definitely not one-dimensional (just think of Curtis's stormy past), and intelligent and well-constructed messages.
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A new ice age has killed out the majority of the population. The few survivors reside on the Snowpiercer, a train, powered by an eternal engine, that circles the planet endlessly. Similar to a community, there are plenty of social divisions present here: the less fortunate residents, who only consume protein bars provided to them, ride in the back carriages, while those from affluent backgrounds ride in the front. Internal conflict and discontent are caused by this discrepancy, especially because the children of the poorest people are stolen and sold into slavery. After experiencing several cases of abuse of authority, Curtis (Chris Evans), Edgar (Jamie Bell), and Gilliam (John Hurt) decide to end their miserable living circumstances by organizing a revolution with the goal of killing even Wilford (Ed Harris), the train's inventor. The insurrection squad also includes Grey (Luke Pasqualino), Tanya (Octavia Spencer), whose son has been abducted, and Andrew (Ewen Bremner). They free the captives in the prison wagon by first assembling as many allies as they can.
Can they succeed in rescuing every slave and accomplish their goal?
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It is not a perfect movie and is not at the level of other masterpieces of Korean directors like Parasite or Memories of a Murder. But the themes it tries to deal with and the story it tells are very powerful and intriguing, so I totally recommend it to you the movie!!!
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My personal vote is:
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Sources of image used for the post cover is this.
Farewell image and text separators, created by me with Canva
