Coluna Claquete – July 4th, 2016 – Movie of the Week: “Equals”
Coluna Claquete – July 4th, 2016
Newton Ramalho
colunaclaquete@gmail.com – www.colunaclaquete.blogspot.com– @colunaclaquete
Movie of the Week: “Equals”
One of my favorite genres is the science-fiction, preference inherited from my parents. I believe that this attraction is due to the fact that we are talking about things that may happen in a near or distant future. Although the genre is usually associated with technology, the theme can be how humanity will behave, such as the intriguing movie “Equals” (2015).
The world shown in “Equals” is in an unspecified future, when humanity survived a major conflict that destroyed 99.6% of the fertile area, and sought a new way of living.This new world is aseptic, organized, and above all, egalitarian.If we think of “1984”, “Brave New World” or “Logan’s Run” will see some resemblance.
There is no social differentiation, everyone has access to the same benefits of housing, transportation and health, every apartment is equipped with technology dedicated to comfort and practicality. The difference in clothing indicates only the type of work, operative or office worker, or a discrete police force, weaponless, with the suggestive name of “Health and Safety”.
In this universe that appears to be a communism without ideology, there is only one restriction: feelings and desires were banned, as well as the intimate relationships of any kind.Anything that refers to it must be communicated to the medical staff, because it is considered a disease with several levels deep.
It is in this world that lives Silas (Nicholas Hoult), a young illustrator who fulfills his every day routine, until he realizes that he feels an attraction to a co-worker, Nia (Kristen Stewart).
Baffled, Silas search official aid, consisting of drugs and a Levell 1 classification of the disease.Gradually, however, he discovers that there are a lot of people like him who secretly gather a kind of self-help group, led by Jonas (Guy Pearce).
Silas also discovers that his attraction to Nia is matched, but at the same time they begin to live a love affair, they feel the siege of society smother them increasingly. The only solution is to escape for a rest of wild world, out of the oppressive paradise in which they live.
Although I have read or watched movies with intriguing proposals on future societies, it is hard not to wonder whether we have reached something shown in “Equals”. Of course, this society without rich and poor will never exist – the rich will never allow it! However, we can have already arrived this levell of emotionless existence.
It may seem paradoxical this statement because we are living in a time of tremendous intolerance and absolute disregard to other’s opinion. However, it is easier for someone being wroth with an event across the planet than with something very close.
We are becoming insensitive to the suffering and needs of people who are on our side, whom we pretend do not see. No matter if the subject is a victim of daily violence, a homeless, an unassisted student, and or even people from our family to which we do not give attention. We turned emotionless automatons, as our emotion is totally channeled to conflict with those who think differently from us.
Lucubrations aside, “Equals” is a very well made film, with great locations in Japan and Singapore. The main couple has a good chemistry, even Kristen Stewart still remembering his character in “Twilight”.Nicholas Hoult shows more versatility, having already made Hank in the new generation of X-Men movies, and even a zombie in “Warm Bodies”. Guy Pearce, though in a secondary role, always steals the show when he appears.
“Equals” is an interesting film that deserves to be seen and analyzed calmly, even to awaken a good discussion about the future of humanity – and what role we want to play in it.
Original title: “Equals”