Movie Review: "The Platform"

Graphics: Halldór Sanchez

The Platform is a new Spanish film now available on Netflix. This article reviews the film and links it to inequality in different societies and situations. The film will be explained, so if you do not like spoilers, go watch the film and come back to the article later!

Prisoners move between levels

The film takes place in a prison with more than 600 inmates, both voluntary (those who get something in return for being there) and involuntary (those who have done something illegal). The structure of the prison is very interesting since it is kind of a “hole” of more than 300 floors, though on different levels. On each level, there are two inmates and a hole in the middle of the room, right above another. A platform travels from level 0 to level 300+ through these holes. This platform transports the inmates’ food, which is a huge feast of the most wonderful food. However, the problem is that the platform does not get refilled; the same feast goes from level to level. In that way, since each level gets the leftovers from the level directly above them, it is much better to be on the higher levels, the top level being the optimum. The inmates stay on a given level for one month and then get transported to a new one in a random order.

The main problem of this food rationing is that the prisoners on the highest levels eat much more than they need. Therefore, on the lowest levels, there is no food left, and inmates resort to murder and cannibalism. The main character then tries to talk the other inmates into committing an act of solidarity and just eating the necessary rations so there will be enough for everyone, but no one listens. The film ends with uncertainty: what will the prison administration decide to do, knowing about the rampant injustice among the inmates and the continuous deaths?

Familiar Inequality

The film brings to mind many ideas and situations that can be related to our real world and societies. The first thing is the inequalities brought forth from the unequal distribution of natural resources. Our planet provides us with limited resources that we have to distribute between populations, both human and non-human. In our society, the richest and most powerful individuals are the ones who extract these resources and distribute them. There are many inequalities that emerge from this distribution since it is very often unfair and unequal between first and third world countries. Similar to what happens to the characters in the film, the ones in the first levels and, here, the ones that have the access to the resources, overuse their power and consume more than needed. People in many countries suffer from starvation, while others suffer from obesity. Also, many countries have tons of clothes, big houses, expensive and exotic furniture, while others lack proper housing.

The fact that the inmates move from one level to another in a random way makes me think about our inherent inequalities. Immediately from birth, you already have, or don’t have, advantages and access to resources. Some people are very fortunate, being born in healthy and wealthy countries, while others cannot count on the same services. This is an immediate source of inequality in the world, which is very difficult to manage.

Also related is the current situation with the coronavirus. Since there is a limited amount of hospital beds and equipment and the number of infections is rapidly growing, medical professionals must, unfortunately, decide who gets treated and who doesn’t. In countries like Spain and Italy, where the pandemic is currently in a critical state, they are in the situation where, if there aren’t enough respiratory machines, they prioritize those younger than 65 years old, therefore leaving the oldest people to die. Like in the film, there is a limited amount of resources (beds, medical equipment, medical staff, etc.) and only the most fortunate (younger than 65 years old) can access them. However, in this case there is no example of greed, since everyone is only “consuming” what they need.

A clear message

In the film, the main character and his companion try to change the system by giving the administration a message: returning an intact, untouched dish. However, this fails, since they give the dish to a child that is stuck in the hole. Their solidarity and caring for the child makes them lose their only hope for a change in the system; however, they then discover that the child is the message. Being a child inside, that is totally against the rules of the hole. Therefore, seeing that one child got in might let them think about their flaws and mistakes. However, the film ends with uncertainties, since we do not know what happens after: uncertainties about whether the system will listen to our efforts to fight against inequality and the uncertainty of not knowing if our efforts are in vain.

The message I take from this film is that we have to start or continue fighting against the inequalities in our society. It is not okay that our natural resources are distributed in such an unequal way, not only between humans but also between species. Many animals and plants are suffering from our greed and have scarce resources, e.g. clean water or sufficient food. The fight is difficult and sometimes dangerous, but necessary. If we don’t change things, we might end up like the film characters and witness cannibalism, murder, a lack of trust… I hope this movie made you think about the world’s inequalities and how to deal with them. Stay fair!