The phrase “Based on a True Story” draws the viewer’s attention with an aim of understanding the true nature of the story. The existence of noteworthy events and people in history is significant in the creation of films that are based on actual stories. Nevertheless, historical events are not simple thus justly explicit. The role of a film is to help the audience understand a story in an easily consumable manner. On the other hand, a filmmaker provides an explanation to contemporary issues by considering historical events (Bottomore 367). With their ability to bring history to the light, filmmakers are credited for their skills of generating interest in history. With the importance of a film in understanding past events, a critical review of the film “Modern Times” is necessary. On watching the movie, this reflection paper will discuss motivation and character representation as depicted in the film. Besides, this paper will discuss how historical events make the movie not only interesting, but also authentic. Lastly, highlights of the valuable lessons learned in the film will be presented.
Released on February 25, 1936, “Modern Times” is one of the oldest classical comedy films (Chaplin 1). Scripted and directed by Charles Chaplin, Modern Times depicts how people struggle in the contemporary workplace. While the film makes an account of the industrial revolution period, it comments on how workers survived in harsh workplace conditions. Although many, consider technological advancements a success, the film makes an account of the challenges associated that followed technological advancements (Bottomore 369). The beginning of the movie shows the second hand of a huge clock approaching the hour hand. In its symbolic nature, the clock signifies subjugation under the clock autocracy. Because time is essential in carrying out day-to-day activities, human beings are constantly chasing time to accomplish deadline targets.
“Modern Times” is a classical comedy. In the film, industrialization is already taking place. Since the film emphasizes on the effects of technological advancements, most actions in the film take place in a factory. Alongside other workers, Chaplin is trying to move with the pace of the conveyor belt (Chaplin 1). The importance the factory as a suitable location for the film is that it exhibits technological advancement and its effects. There is no better place to present technological advancements other than a factory. Therefore, the plant acts as an important place since it exhibits appropriate context of the film. It relates to the class readings in the sense that it connects history with the main ideas highlighted in the film.
The film focus on issues surrounding industrial revolution and its effect on the modern day workforce. These workers, Chaplin included, are heading towards the factory gate from the subway station in large numbers. The film introduces Chaplin’s character, portrayed as zealous, which is similar to the modern-day worker (Baltimore 368). Chaplin’s line of work is to feed the rest of his colleagues through the conveyor belt as they work. He places more focus on his work in that, any slight disruption would lead to dismal production. Every worker is portrayed as a robot by the rate in which he works, almost as machines.
The main character is a slave to modern-day technology. Slavery to modern technology emphasizes that a modern worker is subject to the industrial production processes. Invented by the same humans, modern day technology deprives human beings of their dignity (Henretta, Rebecca, and Robert 315). As a result, the human mind is damaged and become a slave to routines such as the tyranny of the clock, hurrying to reach the production factory and the monotony of work. Funny enough, despite all the effects of modern technology, the modern man has learned to turn a blind eye and assume everything is the way it should be.
There are two significant ideas in the film. These features include workers’ capability to move at the same speed as the conveyor belt and conflicts that came with industrial revolution. It is evident that Chaplin faces the challenge of meeting demands of the new technology. He strains at the conveyor belt due to fatigue that comes with the fast-paced machine at the factory. Evidently, with technological advancements, workers were in constant conflict with their employers (Henretta, Rebecca, and Robert 35). As depicted in the film, the complexity of these machines has forced workers to meet the machine’s standards. Failure of meeting set targets has resulted in more conflicts.
Visual images are the most effective tools of conveying message to any audience. Use of visual images is relevant because it helps in understanding part 6 of class reading “Industrializing America: Upheavals and Experiments, 1877-1917.” Therefore, after watching the movie, it was easy to integrate concepts learned in class with the main ideas in the film. Watching the movie was not only captivating, but also easy to comprehend. Therefore, it would be easy for an average moviegoer would understand the movie. The use of comic relief does not only entertain the audience, but also captures their attention and concentration on critical issues in the film.
Works Cited
Bottomore, Stephen. “The comedy of Charlie Chaplin: artistry in motion.” Early Popular Visual Culture 9.4 (2011): 367-369. Print.
Chaplin, Charles. “Charlie Chaplin: Modern Times” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 2007. Web.
Henretta, James A., Rebecca Edwards, and Robert O. Self. America: A Concise History, Volume Two: Since 1865. Vol. 2. Macmillan, 2012. Print.