Scarface is one of the greatest gangster films of all time, about the ambitious criminal Tony Montana, who comes from Cuba to Miami. In the 20th century, cinema became one of the most popular forms of recreation; this is why filmmakers have chosen to use it as a platform to discuss social, political, and cultural issues (Goodykoontz et al., 2019). The central problem in Scarface is the problem of social adaptation, which is acute at any time in any society. This happens because the first wave of emigrants are strangers in the new culture, do not speak the country’s language, and do not have the appropriate education and cultural background. Thus, all social elevators are closed to people looking for a better life when they come to a new country.
The protagonist and his family were refugees from Cuba who were forced to flee from the repression of Fidel Castro. Arriving in Miami, they found themselves forced to work for pennies in low-skilled jobs. In the film clip, when Tony gets thrown out of mama’s house, Montana explains his motivation for working for a crime ring. He desires the same as all people – to achieve prosperity, well-being, and security for his family (Vee XXL, 2017). However, he cannot do it legally. This is a critical point for society since people should not only condemn crime but also understand what reasons lead to it. By cornering migrants economically and socially, society creates future problems for itself in the form of people who do not see the point in obeying laws that are not on their side.
When the police interrogate Montana, the social problem is entirely revealed. The cops bully and humiliate Tony as a second-class person (Binge Society, 2020). Montana clearly perceives them not as defenders of the law but as enemies from whom there can only be harmful. The director makes the viewer feel sympathy for the charismatic Tony, who initially came with the best intentions. He becomes a hostage of the system, which directs him along the path of crime, degradation, and moral decay.
References
Binge Society. (2020). Scarface: I’m Tony Montana [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Goodykoontz, B., Jacobs, C. P., Meetze, J., & Pritts, N. (2019). Film: From watching to seeing (3rd ed.). University of Arizona Global Campus.
Vee XXL. (2017). Scarface – Tony Gets Thrown Out of Mama’s House (1080p) [Video]. YouTube. Web.