Snowpiercer - An unbalanced and unsettling train ride - Art House Rating : 3 stars

Joon-ho Bong would not be a familiar name to most western audiences, but he is one of South Korea's up and coming directors. Snowpiercer is his first English speaking film. How does it translate?

Walking into the cinema...
There has been considerable buzz about this film, due to it's limited cinematic release. A Korean director writing the screenplay based on a post-apocalyptic French graphic novel about a cure for climate control that goes considerably wrong and a small representation of humanity is left on a train circumnavigating the globe. Intriguing to say the least.  

Art House* rating: 3 stars

Family rating: This film is for mature audiences only. It has mature themes and language that should be taken into consideration before viewing. 

Snowpiercer is based on the post-apocalyptic, French, graphic novel, Le Transperceneige.  South Korean director Joon-ho Bong (The Host, Mother) has been striving for years to get this screenplay to the big screen. The story is reminiscent of the graphic novel's original theme, but Bong gives it an interpretation that is more action packed and visceral. His vision is set on the train that holds the last remaining humans in an attempt to protect them from a global freeze caused by a world-wide government experiment to 'fix' climate-change. After a brief historical account of the catastrophe, the story begins 17 years after the freeze and class warfare is moving to the boiling point on board the unique locomotive. 

Curtis (Chris Evans) leads the revolt to free the poorer masses in the back carriages of the train. The battle ensues between the guards and lower class passengers. Evans leads a renowned international cast (Kang-ho Song, John Hurt, Jamie Bell and Octavia Spencer) who battle from carriage to carriage. Working through the inner workings of the train to the opulent carriages of luxury toward the from of the train. Mason (Tilda Swinton) leads train military forces, but eventually involuntarily, assists the band of rebels toward the engine room and to the messianic leader, Wilford (Ed Harris). The climax brings Curtis face to face with his long standing enemy and his own personal battles.

Snowpiercer is a fascinating study in the condition of humanity, a glimpse into despair and the hopeless nature of mankind if left to its own devises. Showing that mankind can try to manufacture ideal systems of balance, but ultimately these systems will fail when it comes to the confrontation of with the care for fellow humans and managing their suffering. The train becomes a metaphor for the divisions of humanity and the self-destruction that seems inevitable. Bong's film qualifies as one of the bleakest depictions of the humanity in recent memory. The revolution battles are violent and disturbing. Throughout the journey for freedom, the majority of the existing humans destroy themselves. Within in this depressing setting, the story does have its light and shade or maybe more accuraltey, its dark and then darker moments. Dual messianic figures exist on both ends of the train and illusions to self-sacrifice exist, but are these are less a depiction of a Christ-like figure and more a portrayal of the yin/yang. During the few respites in the action, many stories are told of the 17 year train ride on the Snowpiercer which are more disturbing than the battle scenes. Due to descriptions of cannibalism, drug addiction, self mutilation and death this guarantees that this film is not for weak constitutions. 

Bong has a bleak but fascinating style of filming that works well in the setting of the tube-like train existence. His trademark long takes that manage multiple events at one time and can cause distraction from the primary scene work in this film. His message seems to communicate an unsettling world of class warfare and the evils of the human heart. It sits squarely in the sci-fi realm, which explains why much of Bong's imagery and narrative are unrealistic and unsettling, especially in the sudden and hopeless conclusion. The cast, budget and scope of this film portray blockbuster sensibilities, but leaves it with an art-house feel. This is not a film to savour, but to analyse the human condition and hope for a better end to mankind.  

Leaving the cinema...

You cannot deny the quality of the filming and acting, but this has to be one of the darkest depictions of the human condition in recent cinema. I would only recommend this film to someone who would like to get a glimpse into hell on earth. It does open the door good conversation, but not one for hope for humanity.  

Overall Rating:  2 stars

What are some of the bigger questions to consider from this film? 

1. What is the human condition?  (Genesis 3; Matthew 15:19)

2. What does the bible say about hell? (Daniel 12:2,3; Matthew 25:46; John 5:28; Revelation 20:14,15)
3. Is there hope in this world? (Mark 9:24; Romans 5: 2-5)

Written by Russell Matthews based on a five star rating system @ Russelling Reviews #russellingreviews

*A film intended to be a serious artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal. These reviews will be focused on the artistic side of the the cinematic experience. The majority of these films will be for mature audiences.