Directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, The Platform is a Spanish sci-fi horror/thriller film that takes place in a dystopian future, in a facility where the residents, who are periodically switched at random between floors, are fed by means of a platform filled with food that gradually descends through the levels of the tower. The inmates at the top levels have the chance to eat as much as they can in a set amount of time, which leaves increasingly little for those below them and conflict begins to arise.
This was a film that came out in 2019 but has recently gained some attention due to recent events. And after watching it myself… I understand why.
The concept set in this film is a simple one, but it is layered with many underlying messages and themes that makes this film stand out in ways I didn’t expect. Greed, social class, desperation and survival are some of the major themes this film presents in an environment that you can indeed compare to current events.
The film also includes major elements of the Don Quixote story, especially with the lead character. As well as owning the book, he shares the chivalrous qualities of Don Quixote of wanting to help the helpless, pushing for fairness and to defeat the “evil” that controls the fate of him and everyone else in the facility. But just like the character in the book, his ideals are mostly derived from fantasy, as well as his own morals which are shown to be useless when reality hits him hard, either by other people or the facility itself.
Iván Massagué delivers a great performance of this good-willed yet naive character who eventually has to resort to unsettling actions as time passes in this horrific prison. This is a truly disturbing movie that can show the horrors humanity can be capable of when pushed to the brink both physically and mentally.
The cinematography is absolutely stunning, with shots that radiate with power and symbolism in almost every frame. Some shots also ooze with unnerving tension and really add to the feeling of isolation and confinement of the building the people are imprisoned in.
The narrative is simple, but layered and engaging, as you follow the lead character and the other residents he meets. The performances are as striking and gripping as the themes this movie presents, and the descent into madness from multiple elements is shown so perfectly through the performances. The score is haunting and sends chills down your spine as it plays over very intense scenes and simple ones.
It all culminates to a very ambiguous yet thought provoking conclusion that brings up a very strong theme that I dare not give away, but I hope that the viewers who see this film are able to understand it and realize the significance of it in regards to what is happening now. This is a film that is important on many levels and it should not be dismissed by any means. I’m going to give The Platform an A +.
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