Platform: A Social Criticism

Blog, Movies

Note: If you haven’t watched Netflix’s Platform then stop! There are spoilers 🙂

After finishing the film Platform, it’s “obvious” the film centered around the dangers of capitalism and human nature. Goreng (Iván Massagué), a young man who voluntarily enters the prison to get his accredited degree, lies at the epicenter of this social criticism piece. This review we will take a deep dive into some film’s central themes.

First, the film opens up with a quote that remains essential throughout the entire film:

“There are three types of people: those at the top, those at the bottom and those who fall.”

The quote parallels life in the prison, aka the “hole.” People at the top are content with where they are. While those at the bottom don’t have the resource to make change.  People throughout this movie fall both literally and figuratively. Some fall to their death when trying to change levels. For Bahart and Goreng, they intentionally choose to descend into the hole in order to make change and send a message to The Administration.

Second, each prisoner is allowed to bring one item. Goreng chooses to bring Don Quixote, a book written during the Spanish Golden Age by Miguel de Cervantes.

This is an odd choice for Goreng. His roommate brings a knife that sharpens itself as he uses it. While another prisoner brings a rope, hoping to climb up levels himself. Both Platform and Don Quixote center stories around feat versus famine.  I don’t want to give too much away, but if you are interested in classic literature, I would definitely give this a read.

Lastly, the confusing ending. What does it all mean?

After Goreng and Baharat ascend 333 levels, they leave a young girl on the Platform as a message to send to the administration.

I don’t know about you but I was hella confused. Did she make it? Is Goreng dead? Is this all just a dream?

When asked if the message reached the administration,  Director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia wrote, “That’s something you should ask society. It’s up to all up to you… it depends on whether we want to remain the most miserable species that have ever set foot on the planet…”

Although his response was grim, allowing the audience to make their own ending gives power to a viewer’s interpretation.

Spoken like a true artist, he further notes,

“As I said before, this is a self-criticism. I don’t feel authorized at all to tell anyone what to do. The film only aspires to explore, not to indoctrinate or to lecture. And, of course, there are many who do what they have to do, but most of us spent the day looking for an excuse.”

Each prisoner entering the “hole” is promised a prize. Whether it is freedom or an accredited diploma these prizes symbolize an individual’s “American Dream.”

As people cling to hope, they soon realize aspirations to reach the top are dramatically inhibited by an oppressive institutionalized system designed to keep them down, sound familiar?

Okay this is Cynical.

The film’s version of humanity is not generous, yet it allows us all to take a step back and ponder about societal inequalities facing us today.

Have a better way to spend your quarantine?

Until next time,

Lauryn 🙂

Have you seen Platform yet? Let me know what you think about it!

If there are any movies you love, let me know! Would love to watch them!!


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Después de 183 episodios

Blog, En Español, TV Shows

Hola 🙂 

Tengo muchas cosas para ti este weekend. Hace dos semanas (more or less) ví el ultimo episodio de “El Clon,” el show a Netflix sobre el amor, la familia, la vida y otras cosas también.

Por supuesto, Él Clon es una historia del amour. Ugh y yo soy una chica romántica, entonces. . . me encanta todos los episodios del programa.

I want to write this whole thing in Spanish but maybe I should do it in English.

Si? No? Yes?

Okay now I am having some sort of playful banter with myself.

I think I have officially gone insane.

Maybe it’s because I spent 183 hours of my life watching the ultimate telenovela: El Clon.

I know what you’re thinking…

 

Well guess what? You do. It’s quarantine people.

Normally, there are a million other things to do on a Friday night. But tonight take some time to try something new. Plus, the little moments in our day add up. Did you know that the average person spends 120 hours a year doing laundry?

Just kidding that’s junk science and I made that up. But if you almost believed me that means you are spending way too much time folding clothes instead of living your life.

It’s Quarantine people! Now is the time to jump into the dramatic world of Spanish Soap operas… and possibly do laundry.

Until next time, 

Lauryn <3 


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MADE IN MEXICO

Blog, En Español, TV Shows

Un fin de semana, decidí ver algo nuevo en Netflix. Cuando vi la serie de televisión “MADE IN MEXICO” pensé que sería interesante. Así que, hice clic en él. MADE IN MEXICO es un programa de televisión español que sigue a un grupo de amigos que viven en la ciudad de México. 

source
Kitzia, Liz, Carlos, Hanna, Robby, Chantal, Pepe, Colu, y Shanik
[de izquierda a derecha]

Kitzia Mitre, es una mujer que vive en el ojo público porque proviene de una familia histórica mexicana. Ella es la bisnieta de Gustavo Baz Prada, un revolucionario mexicano y politiano. Estudia moda y trabaja como diseñadora. Kitzia está casada con Pedro Checa.

Roby Checa es el hermano menor de Pedro. Actualmente es soltero. Esto no es importante, pero es bueno mencionar (; 

Carlos Girón Longoria es un hombre de la intemperie muy conocido y guapo.

Shanik Aspe es una presentadora de televisión que recientemente decide perseguir su sueño como cantante. ¡Ella es una súper estrella!

Modela Columbia “Colu” Diaz es gracioso y agradable. Colu también es soltero. Kitzia quiere que ella tenga una cita con Robby. Pero…. ella le gusta Pepe. Casual. Debe ser horrible tener varios tipos que quieren que al mismo tiempo. 

Hanna Jaff es una chica ambiciosa. Ella ha completado muchos grados y tiene una lista muy larga de cosas para completar antes de que ella muera (esto es similar a un Bucket List). Hanna está muy lograda. Pero algo de ella parece estar fuera. ¡Con todos sus grados, usted pensaría que ella sería lo suficientemente inteligente como para mantenerse alejado de todo este drama!  

Liz Woodburn, una chica americana que se mudó a México después de casarse con su esposo, Carlos Olson. Ella trabaja como una bloguera de comida.  Chantal Trujilio es una bloguera de moda. Su estilo es asombroso. Finalmente, Pepe Díaz es un emprendedor inspirador. 

Quiero dar un análisis muy detallado de todas las personas en este programa. Pero, ¿cómo podría? Es un grupo de “fresas” (una palabra que es un estereotipo de la gente rica) gritando el uno al otro mientras que usa ropa costosa. Claro, hay un drama ocasional: familia, amigos, celos, triángulos de amor, secretos, mentiras. La fórmula perfecta para una serie de televisión básica. 

Hay momentos dulces ocasionales entre amigos. Pero la mejor parte del espectáculo es….. LA ROPA. Haría cualquier cosa para tener su estilo. Si quieres ver a los hombres guapos y la alta costura con estilo, este es el espectáculo adecuado para usted. 


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