The Platform - The movie you thought you never need.

Gaztelu-Urrutia’s The Platform imagines a Brutalist architecture and interior building with what seems like an infinite number of levels. Each one contains two people, some of whom are prisoners while others are volunteers entering in exchange for something. Such was Goreng, not a prisoner but a volunteer, who has signed on for six months in exchange for an accredited diploma.

In a vertical prison, each floor consists of a single, small room, inhabited by two cellmates. In the middle of each room, down the center of the building, is a giant hole where a descending meal platform stops once a day, for the briefest interval. At the very top, on level zero, a grand buffet is sent down through the middle of the room. It is loaded with food and drink at the beginning of its descent, and “if everyone ate only what they needed,” an administrator explains, “the food would reach the lowest levels.” But if those on the higher floors stuff their faces (and they all do), things can get more than a little desperate down below. There’s enough food for all levels but for it to be rationed out equally, it relies on participants to only take what they need.

The lower you are, the less likely there will be anything left on the floating platform. Each month, they will wake up on a different floor, and even the ones who were oppressed, can become the oppressors once they get a taste of abundance.

it is simple, those at the top aren’t about to give up their excesses willingly, and the bottom-dwellers are too busy surviving to consider the greater good.

Though the ending is open for individual interpretation, I believe that the symbol behind the ‘message’ or the ‘messiah’ revealed at the end of the film is that that there is more than enough money, food and resources to go around, but over consumption inevitably leads to inequality, and the wealthy are not inclined to share.

Ultimately, the future depends on the younger generation that is not manipulated by this dog eat dog system. The same generation that hopefully will bring a better coming to our world.

After watching this movie, I became very appreciative of all the food I can afford to put on the table. It made me comprehend the current situation in our country and all over the world with more empathy.

With the current situation, I felt like it acted as a reset button for us to start over. And start better too!

Lastly, I would like to leave you with a song from Sami Yusuf below. There is an excerpt in the song that fits this movie;

“Between what you give and what you take When what you give Such precious life you save, life you save…”

At least, that’s my take. What’s yours? Let me know

The Platform is now available on Netflix.