"The Village" (2004) - M. Night Shyamalan
As a big fan of all M. Night Shyamalan's films, I was eagerly anticipating this summers release of "The Village". While the film was enjoyable- well shot and well cast-, it does not rank (in my opinion) as his best. Regardless of how you rate any of his films, I couldn't use the word "worst", for Shyamalan's "worst" effort still shames most typical Hollywood fare.
Perhaps more difficult than assessing the quality of the film is deciding what it's deeper meaning is. (I might point out here, that if you have not seen the film, you might want to skip this Blog.) I can't help but see a sympathetic analogy of current world culture, even U.S. culture. Let me see if I can lay it out. First, let me preface this with a note that I am NOT America bashing, nor do I condone that. Other nations, including Canada, in various degrees, are equally guilty of the following mistakes.
The village (US) represents what they see as an ideal society, a society of freedom, peace and general prosperity. This idealistic society is only maintain through creating a culture of fear that requires strict adherence to the rules of the Elders (Dub-ya). When things go wrong, the entire village is required to "confess" anything that might be responsible (Patriot Act). In the end- no matter how many lives were put at risk, no matter how many lies define the lives of the people- the end justifies the means, because the interests of the Elders were protected. In the case of the movie, it was their shared trauma in the brutal "outside" world and desire to protect their families from it, which certainly draws on viewers sympathy, but lacks the integrity to stand up to much examination.
Some might say that I am reading too much into the film. I would argue that Shyamalan rarely (if ever) writes his films devoid of deeper social commentary. However, even if it is stretch, it makes for a great allegory for current world event. So, those are my two cents!
Perhaps more difficult than assessing the quality of the film is deciding what it's deeper meaning is. (I might point out here, that if you have not seen the film, you might want to skip this Blog.) I can't help but see a sympathetic analogy of current world culture, even U.S. culture. Let me see if I can lay it out. First, let me preface this with a note that I am NOT America bashing, nor do I condone that. Other nations, including Canada, in various degrees, are equally guilty of the following mistakes.
The village (US) represents what they see as an ideal society, a society of freedom, peace and general prosperity. This idealistic society is only maintain through creating a culture of fear that requires strict adherence to the rules of the Elders (Dub-ya). When things go wrong, the entire village is required to "confess" anything that might be responsible (Patriot Act). In the end- no matter how many lives were put at risk, no matter how many lies define the lives of the people- the end justifies the means, because the interests of the Elders were protected. In the case of the movie, it was their shared trauma in the brutal "outside" world and desire to protect their families from it, which certainly draws on viewers sympathy, but lacks the integrity to stand up to much examination.
Some might say that I am reading too much into the film. I would argue that Shyamalan rarely (if ever) writes his films devoid of deeper social commentary. However, even if it is stretch, it makes for a great allegory for current world event. So, those are my two cents!
posted by Jamie at 11:22 p.m.
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