Is your “administration” really concerned about your needs?
How many of you got reminded of your country’s government while watching “The Platform”? If you didn’t, then it’s simply because you are privileged, and your whole life is somewhere between the levels 0–3. Yes, I said what I said.
The Spanish film directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia is bizarre but makes you ponder. The film stands out not because of the performances or it’s bizarreness, but for it’s messaging and no, not the kind you need to worry about. In a time where all the films come out to be preachy, “The Platform” tries to send out the message without actually shoving it down through our throats.
The film is about a Vertical Self-Management Center/pit with multiple levels, and each level contains two people trying to survive with one object they were allowed to bring. Our story moves forward with the protagonist Goreng (Ivan Massague) as he gets into the center voluntarily to quit smoking and to finish his book. As the story moves forward, we learn that there are more than 250 levels in the center and to each level one sitting of a well-prepared meal gets passed on from level 0. As the platform approaches downwards, we see that it gets emptier as the people in the upper levels do not empathize with people in the lower levels. Now, are you telling me that this doesn’t prompt anything?
Each scene digs deeper into our country’s government or “administration”, and in one scene when Goreng wants to challenge the system, he is called a “communist” by his fellow cellmate (Zorion Eguileor). Goreng tries hard to bring change with peaceful methods but fails immensely, he finally gives in when he comes to level 6. He forms a team and he tries his best to deliver food to people in lower levels and that particular scene reminded me so much of my country because pulling each other down for our good is something that we have been doing for a long time.
The film touches upon a lot of sensitive subjects other than the economic backgrounds such as Race, Gender, Religious preachers, etc. They often talk about ‘Snails’ and for me, it is the ultimate symbolization of how slow things workaround and later we end up regretting “our” choice. Every scene felt like home, and no not in a good way. The symbolization of the “administration” made me relate to the film on a deeper level and if you think that you don’t relate to the film on any level (pun intended) then I rest my case by giving you a reality check again, “YOU ARE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO NOT CARE”.
