In a future date of the world, where creativity and emotions were forbidden comes a man who uncovers his coffin of feelings and begins a whole new journey to rediscover what freedom of emotion is. Equilibrium is a 2002 fiction action movie directed by Kurt Wimmer that incorporates many hotshot film aesthetics that gravitates the audience of the movie as well as giving the film suspense and intensity with other hidden emotions encountered. The significance of the message the film is trying to convey is the imbalance in society and the exclusion of emotions.
The government in this film has immense power while citizens have insignificant power as we can relate to in the present. Equilibrium was made to give an insightful look into what the future could possibly look like when government dominates over citizens voices. This movie was released during the 21st century after the Third World War that was created by “us.” The war started with people growing into rage and sadness which caused them to act malevolently and begin bombing each other.
After the war, to suppress the impulsive decisions, each person had to be injected with Prozium: a drug that eliminates all kinds of emotions. This drug was created and used to inhibit world peace. Not only emotions were forbidden but so were arts, music, books, etc.
The protagonist of the film is John Preston played by Christian Bale who works for the government known as a “Cleric.” His job is to eliminate anybody and anything that shows emotion in jointment with his partner Partridge who is played by Sean Bean. Their job as top- level enforcers is to mandate murder on any Sense Offenders. Although, Preston’s wife is incinerated for showing emotion. This takes a toll on Preston’s duty to be dispassionate. Throughout the film, we do see Preston uncovering a side that is not legal in the future world.
To date back in today’s society, our people and the government still seem to tackle one another instead of working together. In “The Virtues and Vices of Equilibrium,” a book written and published by Doyne Farmer and John Geanakoplos they discuss taking human reasoning into account. “There are situations where equilibrium models provide useful predictions and there are situations where they can never provide useful predictions.”(Farmer and Geanakoplos. 2008). This quote is very interesting considering the fact that Prozium in Equilibrium was being used to enforce balance by having no emotion. I consider the Prozium as a method of equilibrium being used by the government. The government ought to believe that the use of Prozium was a permanent way to keep tranquility but it was overall a shortcoming.
Furthermore, Farmer and Geanakoplos make an assertive argument stating that having more structure rather than having strategy is a reason of infiltration of an imbalance in society. They state that an organization's strategy is a process of action targeted at successfully reaching precise goals and staying in good stead with anybody in that matter. On the other hand, having structure is only the process of the pieces of an organization that fit together internally, in today’s era when it comes down to implementing structure in a government filled with people under dominate power does not work out because each individual wants to be heard. Strategy over structure is the way to go in order to keep satisfaction alive and not assorting people as the same.
The film Equilibrium uses the element of structure over strategy as to why everybody then breaks loose of hiding emotion. Nonetheless, not knowing how to use the power of such intelligence, of course, causes calamity as to why having the framework of strategy be embedded in society in the case of maintaining humbleness and contentment from each person which is important.
Secondly, a popular review article that goes into depth with the film is “The Symbolism of Equilibrium” published by The Artifice. This article talks about the most important scenes in the film. “One of his first bouts of feeling is when he tears away a frosty film that covers his window and sees the beauty of the sun rising in his city. This first feeling symbolizes the government keeping beauty away from its people and Preston defying the government to see the beauty for himself.” (Hatch, 2015).
By way of explanation, he is coming across what freedom feels like by disobeying the implemented laws they have especially because he works for the government. He pacely realizes the lights under the shadows of what the government did not want people to come across. Being liberated from restraint to access emotions he thinks he has been in the wrong to mandate murder to those that do feel empathy or such. Preston understands that having emotions is harmless and should not be considered a crime and it is just a way of expressing without typically hurting. Grasping for freedom in a society that is grey, he comprehends that life is meant to be filled with joy and compassion.
Moreover, another great source found to elaborate on the issue of equilibrium in our government is a scholarly journal that envisions possibilities. “Because the Future Matters,” by Mack T. published by The Futurist in 2012. This journal primarily speaks upon our future as a whole. Mack states, “It is evident that change is a challenge because we are not certain what lies ahead.” (2012). It was not wrongful for the government to drug people, but I believe the drug should have only been enforced to the people that were extremely impulsive for a while as a short punishment because not everyone has the same intentions. As Mack T. mentions change is a challenge but it should not be a permanent one.
Goals of having a society of fairness is only capable through strategy and working together. This ties into today’s society because we are so accustomed to laying low and are afraid to speak up about having change on issues that are unjust. However, when we do speak upon change, a majority of the time it is shut down by someone who does not want change.
Relating back to the movie, there is an important scene called “Ludwig Van Beethoven” in this scene we see a different side of John being uncovered as he discovers a hidden room inside a building that is filled with enlivened items. Preston is so comfortable with the dark feeling Prozium gives him that the discovery of this room begins to dismantle the numbness and bring on a new feeling that he knows should not be brought to his attention. The scene is intense but with an organized form to get the meaning across to the audiences.
I find great meaning in this film because of mise-en-scene which incorporated the effective use of editing, lighting, sound, and the content in general. It is very fast and descriptive showing the meaning through layers of technical properties. In traditional filmmaking, the color black is usually incorporated in films to symbolize who the villain is. Preston’s growth and evolution as a character is summarized in clothing. Preston is costumed in different clothes by the third act. Preston wears a suit of white, which indicated a symbol of purity, preferred as a standard of honesty, and another symbolization of heroism.
Upon watching Equilibrium one can see the immense number of symbols it uses to carry its meaning and message. Through the utilization of camera angles and camera techniques such as circling around the actors in intense scenes allows the audience to stay in action and be a part of the danger. Lighting was used to give the audience the feel of living in a world of emotion such as having black, grey, dim colors. The settings were very lifeless and dull. Clothes in Equilibrium also manages to create outstanding symbolism which would cause one to think the same with each and every viewing of the film.
In brief, this film perfectly tells a story of the beauty in life. As Preston begins to feel, he believes he has the power within to restore justice and is in the quest of overthrowing the government for humanity with only a few people by his side. Equilibrium does have a mind and personality all on its own.