This may seem a strange post title for the Mad Max film review but I felt that every aspect of that cinematic experience deserved a powerful title.
In terms of the feelings it engenders, Mad Max may seem like a story about action, horror scenes and saving the day on the surface but it is in fact much more than that.
I personally thought that the film presents us with layer upon layer of colourful tapestry about the human psyche, the human mind and humanity generally.
The setting uses very simple and opposing mono colour schemes: a desert background in a fire rimmed red and yellow lit atmosphere throughout, to portray the desolation, lack of life and hopelessness that the characters start out with. The only colourful character was the guitar player-in red- which seemed a very dramatic contrast suggesting life and blood and passion perhaps and suggestive of hope for humanity in this desolated background of brown sand and dry land.
The concept of technology or the Machine versus Nature is also a strong one throughout, additionally supporting this theme of hopelessness and the fact that nature is depleted and in need of nurturing.
The scene where the bare tree is used as a weapon against machinery is very telling of this idea.
The 'green' place as it is referred to in the film, has been poisoned and depleted by the controlling forces who hold the elements away from the general masses.
Animals are almost non existent except for a few buzzard like birds and the only nurturing or natural element seems to be 'mother's milk' which is horrifyingly harvested. The children and babies are also harvested for the controlling power.
Children in the film are shown as clones of adults white skinned and bold. The lack of hair suggests lack of growth perhaps and the cloning is also a reminder of the faceless creatures fighting the resistance.The white faces are reminders of the ghostly or dead like soulless nature of those harvested beings.
The boils on body parts reflect the ailing soul and the bleeding teeth and covered mouth reminds one of lack of expression, the repressed word and the failing of communication.
Eyes- being thought of as the windows to the soul- are also covered or somehow overly made up to portray lack of compassion or lack of trust and clarity. The characters almost never look each other in the eye and when they do they have a very strong reaction.
Faith is questioned and the phrase: 'I live, I die. I live again' or something of the kind hints at the idea of religion being subjective and used to control others, unless understood in a spiritual rather than a dogmatic way.
In terms of the resistance or the resisting team who eventually save the day and give freedom to the masses, the characters are split into very defined categories: male, female and female who could be male and who is also a protector of females because of her suffering and mutilation.
This was my favourite character by far because whilst looking for redemption, she is able to see the good in everything despite her suffering, and still strives to help others, to feel things deeply and to hope.
The other women are portrayed as sexual objects and as belongings but we also understand that they are only dressed in those white virginal 'uniforms' to be categorised on purpose by the controlling powers, rather than esteemed for their very evident individuality.
Finally, besides looking at humanity from this psychological perspective and in terms of character traits and physical attributes describing personalities, there remains the most critical element in the film which is the ability of the male protagonist to have living visions of his past. These are actual embodiments and reflect his hidden psyche and his fear of the losses in his life, mainly the loss of his family/child which he could not save.
The film portrays madness born of the condition of humanity but also recognises that madness is a very relative thing and is present in all beings in varying degrees and that it is the checks and balances of those degrees which define us one and all.
Max or Lucy or Mary or John or Steve or Dave..whomever's mind it is, ultimately the mind is a beautiful and sensitive ephemeral entity and should be treated with the finest degree of respect.
In terms of the feelings it engenders, Mad Max may seem like a story about action, horror scenes and saving the day on the surface but it is in fact much more than that.
I personally thought that the film presents us with layer upon layer of colourful tapestry about the human psyche, the human mind and humanity generally.
The setting uses very simple and opposing mono colour schemes: a desert background in a fire rimmed red and yellow lit atmosphere throughout, to portray the desolation, lack of life and hopelessness that the characters start out with. The only colourful character was the guitar player-in red- which seemed a very dramatic contrast suggesting life and blood and passion perhaps and suggestive of hope for humanity in this desolated background of brown sand and dry land.
The concept of technology or the Machine versus Nature is also a strong one throughout, additionally supporting this theme of hopelessness and the fact that nature is depleted and in need of nurturing.
The scene where the bare tree is used as a weapon against machinery is very telling of this idea.
The 'green' place as it is referred to in the film, has been poisoned and depleted by the controlling forces who hold the elements away from the general masses.
Animals are almost non existent except for a few buzzard like birds and the only nurturing or natural element seems to be 'mother's milk' which is horrifyingly harvested. The children and babies are also harvested for the controlling power.
Children in the film are shown as clones of adults white skinned and bold. The lack of hair suggests lack of growth perhaps and the cloning is also a reminder of the faceless creatures fighting the resistance.The white faces are reminders of the ghostly or dead like soulless nature of those harvested beings.
The boils on body parts reflect the ailing soul and the bleeding teeth and covered mouth reminds one of lack of expression, the repressed word and the failing of communication.
Eyes- being thought of as the windows to the soul- are also covered or somehow overly made up to portray lack of compassion or lack of trust and clarity. The characters almost never look each other in the eye and when they do they have a very strong reaction.
Faith is questioned and the phrase: 'I live, I die. I live again' or something of the kind hints at the idea of religion being subjective and used to control others, unless understood in a spiritual rather than a dogmatic way.
In terms of the resistance or the resisting team who eventually save the day and give freedom to the masses, the characters are split into very defined categories: male, female and female who could be male and who is also a protector of females because of her suffering and mutilation.
This was my favourite character by far because whilst looking for redemption, she is able to see the good in everything despite her suffering, and still strives to help others, to feel things deeply and to hope.
The other women are portrayed as sexual objects and as belongings but we also understand that they are only dressed in those white virginal 'uniforms' to be categorised on purpose by the controlling powers, rather than esteemed for their very evident individuality.
Finally, besides looking at humanity from this psychological perspective and in terms of character traits and physical attributes describing personalities, there remains the most critical element in the film which is the ability of the male protagonist to have living visions of his past. These are actual embodiments and reflect his hidden psyche and his fear of the losses in his life, mainly the loss of his family/child which he could not save.
The film portrays madness born of the condition of humanity but also recognises that madness is a very relative thing and is present in all beings in varying degrees and that it is the checks and balances of those degrees which define us one and all.
Max or Lucy or Mary or John or Steve or Dave..whomever's mind it is, ultimately the mind is a beautiful and sensitive ephemeral entity and should be treated with the finest degree of respect.
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