One Flew Over Cuckoo’s Nest film was released in the wake of 1975. Directed by the celebrated director Czech Milos Forman, the film remains one of the greatest movies of all time.
Unlike the common conventional films One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) carries an allegorical subject which is developed in the world of bona fide mental hospital. The setting is in essence a place of insurgence exhibited by a brisk, ostentatious, cunning anti-hero against the establishment, institutional influence including the status quo stance (aped by supervisory nurse).
The film was produced during the prime period of communism in the world. The asylum was symbolically employed to reflect the communist Soviet Union. Hence, the protagonist in the film protests against the rampant abuse by the authorities who seems to control each and every aspect of individual freedom.
The film was decisively released after the resignation of America’s president Richard Nixon. Exploring the dynamics of the social presentation where such aspects as anti-authoritarian elements in the wake of 1970s are explored. This involves examining counterculture evolution. From the wake of the early 60s to the late 70s the global society was chasing after dynamic change in all spheres of communal involvement.
Eventually this resulted in the call for system change where the individuals could enjoy and cherish their diverse human rights. This is well illustrated by the lead character in the film One Flew Over Cuckoo Nest where protagonist Randal McMurphy is out to change the system. Considering communism had swiped across the globe, many countries were governed under severe conditions which bordered on mental asylum.
To elaborate the conflict of ideologies of this period both McMurphy and Nurse Ratched are presented as the two contrasting political systems, capitalism and communism. The conflict is illustrated where McMurphy after the primary grouping meeting asserts that the meeting resembled a “pecking party”.
Also the manner Nurse Ratched runs the asylum with almost mechanical brutality reflects the nature of political hostility that was being injected into the society through such ideological concepts as communism. Therefore, to understand the aspects of change which were apparent during this era McMurphy depicts the extreme political and economic face of capitalism. Hence, the
Contrasting and conflicting bond between McMurphy and Nurse Ratched illustrates how the cold war emerged and shaped the global inclination towards the complex social, political and economic ideologies.
Thus, the film engagement with the scope of asylum is just but symbolic aspects of delivering the message. However, the film equally captures the elements of religion which were a central issue during the wake of 1960.
The Vietnam War saga ignited the dire need to examine the political, economic and social relationships globally. Hence, the film The Deer Hunter which was released in the wake of 1975. The film in essence does not reflect the war but the effect of the war on the ordinary citizens.
Examining the presentation of the film, it raises the controversial issue of Russian roulette which is constantly played in the film. Therefore, the theme of the film reflects the manner the global citizens viewed the Vietnam War symbolically in regard to political ties.
Hence, the film involves itself with the less abstract statements regarding the nature of Vietnam War. Though the film did not take place in Vietnam it reflects the horrific changes that the soldiers underwent. Basically this makes the statement of how political ties to communism affected the societies. Therefore, concerning the cold war and communism the film attempts to make a statement on the subject.
Though, the film is not realistic, its presentation of the Viet cong soldiers torturing the POWs ,as well as forcing the captured soldiers to play the Russian roulette. This illustrates the dangers and fears that the world harbored towards a society that embraced forced labor and modern slavery in the name of communism. Therefore, the usage of these motifs and symbolism in the film are purposely exploited to show the horrors of political errors.
Too, the film creates scenes of emotional annoyance by what the audience are forced to witness, translating wrong political inclinations are difficult to reverse and are disastrous. Therefore, reflecting the nature of the political landscapes which were formed in the wake of early 60s to the dawn of late 70s. The film captures the mood and the essence of social instability fuelled by uncertain political and economic future.
The film directed by Michael Cimino is a sequence from a wedding to a funeral. As a story revolving around a group of friends, it touches on the manner the Vietnam War affected the society and in some instances changed them completely. The symbolism and imagery of the film shows the film is neither anti-war nor pro-war. Examining the initial scenes of men in steel industry and their merry making it contrasts with what Vietnam offers.
Therefore, the lives of the men in the steel mill, wedding rituals and the tense funeral rythms depict a tense society that was living in fear. Thus, the story of the three men, Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and John Savage demonstrates the innate social desire for change. More so, the Russian roulette is exploited as the symbol of the film. However, as the film gains prominence, it becomes obvious that the captured soldiers were a symbol of change.
Robert De Niro, for instance, led the others and kept going. Reflecting on such an assumption it would be prudence to assert that the film touches on the agony of seeking social, economic and political change in a time of adversity. And this was rampant all over the world and hence the Vietnam War. All through the film a range of ceremonies as well as cultural rituals are investigated contrasted and put side by side – the wedding, the deer hunt, and the game.
Looking at MASH (1970) a film that was released at a time that the Americans were undergoing a leadership crisis, it would imperative to argue that the film offered unexpected solace to the American people.
The film is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Using subtle scene progression the director delves into the social, political, economic and religious issues that were of concern to the American society. The instrumental issue rests with the two young surgeons who are symbolic representation of the change the Americans needed.
The Robert Altman’s film opens with a sequence of injured US soldiers being delivered for treatment. The montage offers a decisive insight into the life of the America people who were under unreliable leadership. Therefore, the scope of the film established and challenged the dynamic aspects of leadership which were ineffective. Evaluating the role of football in the film, it would be crucial to note that it symbolically touched on the competitive aspects of capitalism which was growing to be a threat to communism.
In essence,the film casts a glance at the nature of sadist elements in the society. Despite the way the surgeons work by pretending that the care less in order to make their work possible. So is the American society that was progressing towards a landscape that was bridged by communism and cold war. Therefore, by picking on the war the film engages us to realize the intensity by which the political ideologies interrupted the delicate social balances.
Examining the paradoxical nature of the film in regard to the period it was produced the cardinal aspect is to denote communists and communism as devils. Hence, this is achieved through the integration of cinematography directing, writing and acting. The wake of the 1970s saw the world leaning towards communism; arms race took a new dimension, while the oil crisis shaped new friends as foes.
Perhaps it is due to such social and economic aspects that compelled Robert Altman to delve into the political situation in the US via the film. This is due to the fact that the football game involving the surgeon’s as well as the general’s squad depicted the manner political, religious, economic and social cheating altered the cause of history.
Looking at the imagery employed by the director the principal goal of the film reflects the nature of distraction in the American society. During this period the American witnessed the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam War as well as the mid east oil crisis not to mention the nuclear war posed by the Soviet Union.
Therefore, the concept of the film addressed these issues through the lens of football as well as the blood drenched hospital where only the distraction of the normal routine would effect change and enhance efficiency.
The above examined films rotate within the axis of change. The manner they are linked to diverse societal elements it can be ignored that system change was the key issue addressed during this period.
More so, it should be noted that the moral aspects also played a critical role, the counterculture was in the making and multicultural aspects reshaped the global social, political and economic perspective. In essence, the films addressed these issues by using motley of dynamics which were symbolically tied to war as well as social conflicts. All in all, the issue of change was rampant in all these films.
2ND ESSAY
Traffic (2000) navigates through the murky waters of drug trafficking. The drug menace seems to be taking a considerable share of global attention. The film examines the effects of drug trafficking on both domestic and international level. From the central government to the innate lives of the drug users, the film captures the intricate effects of drugs on the society.
The film is divided into three key storylines with a couple of dozen locales. Incorporating personal, social and private issues the film has managed to shed light on the dangers of organized crime, poor administration of justice, corruption as well as blackmail.
Therefore, looking at the illustrative features of the film the 21st generation is portrayed as a generation that is under siege. Consider that the principals of drug cartels have infiltrated even the central government including the legal systems. The real danger posed is making the war against crime impossible.
Therefore, what the film exposes is the rot within the modern society that is rejected to tackle the immediate danger in favor of their friends or families. This is well illustrated by the concerns of freshly-selected drug czar Robert Wakefield, whose eagerness for his new stature is rapidly offset when he learn his teenage daughter Caroline is adjusting from frivolous drug use to regular abuse — a surreptitious issue that his wife, Barbara, has concealed from him.
The attempted murder, poisoning, and double crossings portray the nature of the community we are living in. a community that is fuelled by greed and selfishness. It is therefore imperative to note that the dawn of the 21st century brought a number of challenges domestically and internationally. The film title Traffic stands for symbolic aspects of the manner diverse aspects of the society have moved from being noble to acquiring a more corrupt nature.
Exploring the manner the diverse issues have been tied to the scope of drug trafficking, one cannot fail to connect the rot in our society to the failure of establishing accountable and transparent institutions. Thus, the film navigates through the intricate fibers of the society through the metaphor of drug as well as the symbolism of how it is trafficked.
In a dissimilar twist is the production of Hotel Rwanda released in the wake of 2004. The film produced and directed by Terry George looks at the horrifying events of 1994 massacre. Using a well developed plot line the story revolves around the unassuming life of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotelier who endeavored to rescues his friends including more than a thousand internal refugees. Examining what was taking place around the world at this particular period.
The film presents a credible analysis of a society that is uncaring. The Rwandan saga exposes the level of how international community is less concerned with the internal conflicts of neighboring nations. However, through the eyes of the Paul Rusesabagina we are brought to a point of sacrifice where an individual can frontier to protect the life of others placing his own life in danger.
More so, the film has critically explored the aspects of violence, political corruption, as well as genocide. By delving into the scope of genocide the film do indicate how the international community failed to stop the massacre despite the modern technological advancement in both communication and military expertise.
The scope of having Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu by birth living peacefully with his Tutsi wife Tatiana is a profound illustration peace is achievable. However, in the eyes of the extremists such as Rutaganda their marriage is an insult. The Hutu and Tutsi were against each other.
The events leading to the Rwanda genocide as is illustrated in the film demonstrates how political inadequacies can result into civil unrest. Also the manner the UN peacekeepers behaved shows how the UN as the global peacekeeper is powerless in time of extreme conflicts. Therefore, gauging the aspects of the genocide to the global engagement the world is in one way or the other divided along the racial borders.
Therefore, the film captures diverse social aspects which the modern society ignores but acts as the fertile ground for fuelling conflicts. This is demonstrated by what have been happening in southern Sudan as well as what had earlier happened in former Yugoslavia including Bosnia Herzegovina.
Therefore, the principal issues are poor governance, negative ethnicity as well as political corruption which act as catalyst for civil insurgence leading to massacre or more genocide. The whole Rwandan genocide was fuelled by media which acts as the social watch dog.
Another almost similar theme is exposed in Paul Haggis film, Crash. Though, the film attempts to incorporate a number of tricky narratives into the aspects of cinematography, it manages chart through the grisly aspects of racism with unchallenged authority.
Despite the over advocated concept of globalization the film manages to explore the individual failure to accept change. The scope is well illustrated through the eye of racism where diverse elements are filtered through acts of racism. For instance, a white couple is hijacked by two lawless blacks.
Another instance is where the Iranian guy purchasing a gun and later dealing with the gun seller for the racist remarks. Too, the Latina tinsmith is viewed as a criminal for being shaved and adorning a tattoo. Such ethnic and cultural aspects have been illustrated as some of the key elements fuelling racism from the stereotypes who can appreciate cultural identity. Basically, the aspects of racism are shown to be with us.
Despite what we cherish to be the common uniting factor, As individuals we harbor these traits which we link to the greater society. Therefore, looking at the concepts of racism the film touches on the intricate stereotype issues which are apparent in our societies. Though, unwritten but they are exposed by the manner we treat each other.
However, despite the films multiple story and plot lines the theme is well linked with the plot. Hence, despite the face meaning of the value it gradually manages to deliver a message. No matter who we are we have a common background, seeking a general meaning in our lives. That is why as the films gains momentum it becomes obvious that the film is beyond the scope of racism. The single element of race is explored with great care and authority.
Thus, in regard to the social settings which the movie was made the social issue examined sheds light on the nature of our societies today. Therefore, the producers have equally looked into the role of racial prejudices which comes in diverse forms as well as circumstances. Hence, the characters act as imagery of how the contemporary society deals with the issues of racism and negative ethnicity.
In essence, the film offers a decisive ground on which individuals can re-examine their social engagement personally and collectively. This is due to the fact that the film tackles such a serious social issue which affects each and every sphere of the entire global community.
All in all, the film does show us that racial stress or frustration transforms individual perception causing the society to have self-righteous people who are less concerned of others. Too, this concept creates an environment where we have people who cannot co-exist with others due to such features as race, sex, creed or other social backgrounds. Perhaps that is why cars are symbolically employed in the film so as to send the message.
Cars are seen as tools of status and are also for mobile privacy including conflicts. Thus, it is no strange the film is anchored within car oriented instances, which usher one issue to another. Therefore, the scope of race is symbolically tied to cars which reflect the human race.
The explored films are all tied to issues that concern human weaknesses or more so, individual failures. However, the manner they have been played out reflects the nature of our contemporary society. It is decisive to argue that from the production of Hotel Rwanda, Traffic, and Crash the delicate social aspects have been examined critically.
It is through the camera eye that we are made to laugh at ourselves, using unique camera angles and seamless visual effects we are introduced to ethical rots tearing our communities down.
Unlike the conventional action movies the above examined films offers serious observation of our real imagination in regard to each other. For instance, Hotel Rwanda challenges our collective thinking, while the Traffic questions our individual integrity in regard to moral decay and on the other hand Crash compels us to look a little deeper into our individual and collective conviction in regard to what we perceive as cultural diversity.