While I was “experiencing” the
movie Moon, I was not initially
impressed by the plot or the story, and I found it difficult to keep
withstanding attention on the stagnant setting. This is because I didn’t get
it; It was because I had kept a closed mind while watching the movie, which is
precisely what this type of film seems to discourage. I discovered this fact
while listening to the class discussion this week—by hearing the unbelievable veracity
of the clone telepathy theory and by pondering the symbolic potentials of the
number 39 that could have been intentionally placed in the movie. I realized
through the possibilities discussed that what actually makes this film so
interesting is the fact that it does not abide to or provide any details; the
fixed setting allows the possibility for viewers’ minds to wander; the lack of
information provides endless possibilities of interpretation to the open-minded
viewer. The absence of clear direction is precisely the intriguing factor of
this movie.
In the midst of nothingness, Sam’s
character exists in isolation on the moon. As a viewer, I wanted to add purpose
to Sam’s life—the satisfaction of knowing Sam’s reason for his situation. Part
of this purpose was provided to me by the background of Sam’s room, a delicate
element of mis-en-scene added to the
film by the director. Much like the
memories that had been implanted in each clone’s head, there were pictures of
these moments plastered all over Sam’s wall. These pictures served as a
constant reminder and motivation for him to continue with his work on the Moon.
I found myself wondering why these clones needed to be harshly implanted with
memories that actually stemmed from nothing. Perhaps it was because a lack of
focus usually drives people to search for a commitment, a passion, or a hobby
to pursue, and in a way, it was to make each Sam’s life worthwhile. However
hypothetical these pictures and memories were, they served to keep Sam sane and
at peace. The pictures of Tess and Eve motivated each Sam to keep going, and as
a viewer, this allowed me to sympathize with him.
Working to counter these photos was
the depiction of the basement where the clones of the future were stored in
their packaged form. Talk about an unmeaningful life (or rather lives)! Where the
pictures had provided an objective, this room provided to each Sam’s life a
notion that they were simply one of many, living and dying in a span of three
years. This depressing thought was further emphasized by the lack of lighting
that was shown in this room. Drawers full of Sam clones and a tunnel full of
darkness drove older Sam to rush out of the room, and once again, it left me
searching for a purpose to each Sam’s life. However, this time, I realized, this
objective was simple and unbearable: to work for LUNAR international’s energy
movement and then to decease. This darkness was an added supplement to the plot
that allowed me to better sense this scene and atmosphere as a viewer.
Just as the ambiguity of the film
appeals to the viewers and allows them to fill in the blanks, so the obscurity
of Sam’s life leaves him in need of a purpose and meaningful memories to hold
onto. Much of these memories are provided to each Sam by the scientists who
cloned him; we as viewers, on the other hand, leave this movie with questions unanswered.
We need the gray to be filled and we keep searching for possible connections
that could better make this a concrete and solid story to make it meaningful – questions
that the organization of the plot allows us to explore.
Puja, I agree with you on the fact that there an absence of details in the film. That is why the whole time I kept watching, my mind kept creating scenarios on what going to happen next. At first, I had no idea that there were pictures hanging from his room to remind him that he has his wife and daughter to keep him sane. I did notice that when Sam was in the basement, the drawers, filled with the other Sam clones, were dark to symbolize their non-existence-where Sam will become soon become deceased. I like how there is a lack of detail in this movie, it does make the viewer unaware of what will happen next.
ReplyDelete