THE PLATFORM (2020)

EL HOYO (2020) – A Spanish Sci-Fi Thriller directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia written by David Desola & Pedro Rivero starring Iván Massagué, Antonia San Juan, Zorion Eguileor etc.

A Film which has created a world of it’s own to depict the social and economical problems, also it shows the absurdity which has been imposed through crisis, Inequality & exploitation of resources. It has violence which matches the rage of the working class people, The Rage which is purely driven by the urge of hunger – Either the Hunger for food/resources or for power over people.

Goreng (Protagonist) awakes in a Prison Cell later he learns from his Cell mate Trimagasi, that they are in a Cell no: 48 inside a tower shaped prison called “The Hole”. Each Cell is assigned with maximum of two people for a time period of one month and interchanged every month. The Cell has a square shaped hole in the center to provide food via a platform that descend from one cell to another and with this social class is determined, People in Cell no.1 are the richest and the higher the number gets, the poorer the people in the cell will be.

I came across a post about “Late capitalism” and this film more or less matches with that term. The post goes like Q: What is the philosophy of Late Capitalism? A: Two Hikers see a Bear on the trail ahead of them. One of the Hikers takes out his running shoes and put them on. “You can’t outrun a Bear”, The other whispers. “I just have to outrun you” He says. Same is shown in this Film, People from one platform tries to outrun the people of the other platform (Lower level – Obviously), If they don’t have any resources then each person has to outrun other from the same cell to survive, which ends up with cannibalism.

Many metaphors are used to depict the atmosphere of the current world. Like the “The Vertical Self-Management Centre” being the Government or large organisation who creates and maintains rule. Each Cell representing the Social classes (Upper-Lower), The Platform being the luxury/resources that people beholds. Each room getting heated or cooled if prisoners attempt to keep food after the platform has left their level represents Global warming etc.

Unlike other characters from the Film, Goreng volunteered to spend six months in the Hole in exchange of accredited diploma and carries most influential literature work “Don Quixote” with him. Hence his actions are also of a literate and are more rational and is been constantly compared as “Messiah”. The story eventually carries many scenes which builds the layers of suspense and then provide the realization of the final act, which is not the survival/Escape of the protagonist but the breaking of chain which is carried along for a long time and what the Management Centre expects out of them.

Breaking of chain is first emerged with the Idea of providing the food for the lowest of levels but then evolves more philosophically that It is to send a message not by sharing the food/resources equally to all but by eliminating the value it holds by not touching at all (sending a food filled platform for the authority who is expecting empty). Later it evolves further more by understanding the importance of having the resources shared not only with lowest of social class but for the future offspring. Hence the message is a well fed minor girl from level 333 (the lowest) to the establishment which maintained that nobody under the age of 16 is allowed to be in this prison. Hence it ends with Platform racing towards the light from the above.

Even-though this Film doesn’t follow character exploration and doesn’t maintain all the logic’s. Director Gaztelu-Urrutia and cinematographer Jon D. Dominguez has managed to pace out a intriguing story which resonates all the concepts they wanted, by using the dialogues – Pressing the word like “Obviously” which in-turn explains that everything happening around is something expected and with the visual overtones.

Overall, The Platform as a Mainstream film has it’s perfect time to be around with an epidemic emerging around the world with people having thoughts other than usual and can create an impact of it’s own.