Dystopia - The Future, from Vendetta to Divergent

... The World of Cinema ... No, more like Dream World, which helps us to look at ourselves from the outside. There are films that make you think, but we'll talk about them next time. Here we're talking about something else. Our life is a game and we are all actors in it more often than directors. But there are times when the Game becomes unfunny..... We can't let that happen. I guess that's why we like dystopias - for the opportunity to glimpse the future, and for finding ways to prevent, change and warn new generations from possible consequences...

1) V for Vendetta

Year of release: 2006
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Thriller, Drama
Duration: 2 hours 12 minutes
Country: Great Britain, Germany

You can talk a lot about this film, but everyone sees something different in it. In a nutshell: an alternative future. In England, after a terrible epidemic of an unknown virus has plunged the country into chaos, a brutal dictatorship of an overbearing chancellor is established with all its attendant delights: curfew, the omnipotence of party members over ordinary people and, of course, hundreds of secret informers. One night, a freedom fighter known as V appears in London and begins a guerrilla war against the regime in an attempt to restore to the people the freedom taken from them. In this war, he enlists a young woman he has plucked from the clutches of the secret police. But can a lone rebel - Guy Fawkes, Robin Hood and Count Monte Cristo all in one - restore justice and revolutionise the minds of millions?

The film is full of symbols, quotes from philosophers and writers. And the film itself can be broken down into quotations.

‘Under this mask, something more than flesh, under this mask is an idea, and ideas cannot die’.
V - vendetta

Strengths
* Intrigue
* A lot of food for thought
* Not like other films

Watch online: https://ww4.fmovies.co/film/v-for-vendetta-5004/

2)Time.

USA, 2011.
Science fiction, action, dystopia, cyberpunk.
Duration: 109 minutes.

In the future, a way to stop aging is found. People always look twenty-five years old, but their lives are controlled by a timer counting down how much time is left until death. Money is abolished and time becomes the main currency.

Will, the protagonist, comes from a ghetto where everyone is concerned with survival. And he, like the others, lives one day at a time until he meets a stranger who gives him 116 years.

Another charming dystopia from director Andrew Niccol. The film's universe is structured in such a way that phrases like ‘time is money’ or ‘give me some time’ take on new meaning.

Watch online: https://ww4.fmovies.co/film/in-time-5383/

3)Equals

Slogan: In love, all are equal
Director: Drake Dorimus
Country: USA, Indonesia
Year of release: 2015
Duration: 1 hour 41 minutes
Age Limit: 16+

The distant future - what is it like? And is there a place for emotions in it? ‘Equals’ - a film-anti-utopia about love. So, the first thing that awaits people of the future is perfection in everything: in food, in surrounding objects, in clothes. And, most importantly - in emotions and behaviour. The standard of ideal emotions of the future is no emotions. At first glance, everything seems really ideal: there are no manifestations of anger or rage, there is mutual respect for members of society, and everyone is truly equal. And everyone is so beautiful - in snow-white clothes) But it is only at first glance. The collective has completely defeated many diseases, but due to the peculiarities of its functioning it has acquired one very serious illness - the Syndrome of Social Consciousness or SOS. Its signs are very simple - a person begins to feel, he has emotions with which it is more and more difficult for him to fight every day. Such people, experiencing fear, falling into depression and even capable of love, are not pitied by society. ‘Severe’ patients end up in the so-called Nora - a hospital where they are promised to be cured. Nevertheless, no one returns from the Nora.
It is in such conditions that the main characters, Silas (Nicholas Holt) and Nia (Kristen Stewart), meet. Silas is diagnosed with stage one SOS. He is a well-meaning member of the Collective, and the news of his illness does not make him happy at all. Together with the ‘mild’ patients, he waits for the Collective to invent a panacea - a remedy that will rid society of emotions forever. But there is no cure, and the disease is progressing. And Silas isn't as indifferent to everything around him as he used to be. Yes, yes, indifference is the only way to call the illusion of ideal behaviour of people of the future. И... Silas pays attention to his colleague Nia, whose behaviour he begins to notice something strange. The tension lasts almost the whole film - not counting the very first moments, when everything around still seems to be something incredibly perfect and correct. The constant fear of the characters seems to be transmitted through the screen. And the love...

Watch online: https://ww4.fmovies.co/film/equals-13719/

4) The Giver 2014

Genre: sci-fi, thriller, melodrama, drama
Country: USA, South Africa, Canada
Starring: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep
Director: Phillip Noyce
Duration: 01:37

We're here for one purpose. Simply stated, though it's not simple at all.
It's hard to live with awakening feelings in a society that denies them. But it's progressive, so that everyone can find a place and occupation according to their abilities. But young Jonas, who looks at the world with different eyes than his fellow tribesmen, has no idea yet of the burden that will soon fall on his shoulders, and that emotions are not only about golden sunshine and blue skies.
All in all, if one wants to watch a contemporary something on the verge of high art, but not too heavy-handed when getting acquainted, ‘Dedicated’ will be right up your alley. It is (in most places) an enjoyable film that strikes a good balance between meaning and story, without tugging the blanket on either, making it easy to enjoy. Plus, it doesn't take up a lot of time.

Watch online: https://upmovies.net/watch/ovl5qlxP-the-giver.html

5) Perfect Sense (2011)

Genre: sci-fi, melodrama, drama
Country: Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, Ewan Bremner.
Director: David Mackenzie
Duration: 01:28

Humanity is faced with a new scourge. All over the planet, in every corner of the world, people of all nationalities are losing their senses. Each of the five senses is gradually being erased from human memory. Despite all that is happening, Michael and Susan, realise an unusual attraction between them. They think their emotions are fleeting, but as time passes, the couple realise the seriousness of their connection. The world is reaching its final moments, and only a few still realise something. The lovers begin to realise that their destinies are linked. But what happens next when the last feelings on Earth are gone?

Watch online: https://cineb.world/movie/perfect-sense-50574/

6)The Hunger Games

Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Wes Bentley, Toby Jones, Donald Sutherland, Isabelle Fuhrman.
Year of release: 2012- 2015
Director: Gary Ross
Country: USA
Genre: drama, sci-fi, dystopia

The Hunger Games... Future. An oppressive state organises annual survival games, which are watched live by the whole world. The lot to participate in the Games falls to young Kitniss and Pete, who is secretly in love with her. They have known each other since childhood, but now they must become enemies. After all, according to the inviolable law of the Hunger Games, only one of the 24 contestants can win. The judges don't care who wins, it's all about the spectacle. And this time, the spectacle will be unforgettable.
XXII or XXIII century, the totalitarian state of Panem. The country is divided into districts. Each district has its own specialisation and supplies the capital with resources. While the Capitol drowns in luxury, the people of the provinces struggle unsuccessfully with hunger and poverty. Once a year, the Harvest takes place. In a special ceremony, each district chooses a girl and a boy. The young tributes become participants in a battle for survival. At the finale of the Hunger Games, only one hero survives. The bloody tradition is elevated to a cult and became a punishment for the Enclaves after the Thirteenth District dared to rebel against the Capitol. The Dictatorship is armed with the gifts of technological advancement and suppresses any defiance. During the Harvest in the mining district, the lot chooses young Primrose Everdeen. But her sister cannot let this happen, becoming the first volunteer in the history of the Games ...
 Although the end of the story has long been known, you often want to revisit films like this. When you follow the characters with pleasure and not without emotion... Is not it at the same time in you the best qualities that you want to remember and carry to the world?....

Watch online: https://123series.art/movie/the-hunger-games-78000/

7) Divergent, Insurgent, Alligent.

Directed by: Neil Burger
Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Jai Courtney.

Yep... So, while The Hunger Games is indeed a thought-provoking film about our future. But what if we look even further? Probably behind the Games many people did not notice another bestseller, which saw the light of day on 25 April 2011. We also have this book titled The Chosen One. The second book was released on 21 February 2012 and is called ‘The Insurgent’, the third - ‘The Elligent’ was released on 26 September 2013 (you can read more about these books on the website: https://bookzip.ru/3931-divergent.html). The novel was listed as a bestseller by Publishers Weekly in 2013 and 2014. On 21 March 2014, the film adaptation of the book was released with Shailene Woodley in the title role, the antagonist played by Kate Winslet. In Russia, the release of the picture was scheduled for 10 April 2014. In 2014, Veronica Roth wrote the book ‘The Fourth. The Story of Divergent’, which included four stories: “Crossed”, “Neophyte”, “Son”, “Traitor”, as well as unique scenes from “Divergent”, told on behalf of Tobias. In 2018, the short story ‘We Can Be Mended’ was released, serving as an epilogue to the events of the trilogy.

The universe of the trilogy is a world unfolding on the ruins of the former Chicago, where people, trying to prevent future strife and war, have formed five factions - a kind of closed castes: Renunciation, Erudition, Fearlessness, Friendliness and Sincerity. Each faction fulfils a different function in society, and all its members share a common set of character traits. There are also Outcasts (Afflictionists), those who do not fit into any faction or who have dropped out of one for one reason or another.

Factions:
- Sincerity (Candor, officially translated as Pravdolyubiye) - was formed by those who blamed duplicity and deceit for the faults of human nature. Therefore, their symbol represents scales in a circle. The colours of the faction are black and white. Ceremonial symbol: glass. Rival to Friendliness, as they are believed to be duplicitous and always lie to avoid conflict. Leader: Jack Kahn.
- Erudite (official translation: Eruditsiya) is the only faction dedicated to knowledge, intelligence, curiosity and insight. It was created for those who blamed ignorance for the war that occurred in the past, causing them to split into factions in the first place. The faction symbol on the emblem: an eye, denoting intelligence and inquisitiveness. Most members wear glasses, despite the fact that their eyesight is flawless. Each member must wear at least one item of blue clothing. Ceremonial symbol: water. Rival of the Forsaken, believing their methods of governance to be ineffective. Leader: Janine Matthews.
- Druzhelyubie (Amity, official translation: Comradeship) - this faction is dedicated to peacefulness, kindness, generosity and neutrality. The symbol of the faction on the emblem: a tree. Friendliness was formed by those who blamed wars and fighting as flaws in human nature. Members of this faction wear red and yellow clothing. Ceremonial symbol: soil. There is no official leader, spokesperson Joanna Reyes.
- Dauntless (Dauntless, officially translated as Likhost) - this faction is dedicated to bravery and the elimination of fear. It was created for those who blamed cowardice for all the shortcomings of human nature. The symbol on the emblem: a burning flame. Tris joins this faction during the Choice Ceremony. They differ from the other factions in that they wear mostly black clothing, tattoos and piercings. Ceremonial symbol: burning coals. 5 leaders (there must be an odd number of leaders), including Max and Eric.
- Abnegation (according to the official Russian translation - Altruism) - a faction dedicated to selflessness. Clothing is all grey and plain. The only acceptable jewellery is a watch. The symbol on the emblem is two hands shaking hands - a sign of selflessness. Women of Renunciation usually gather their hair in a bundle or ponytail, while men cut their hair short. Avoid mirrors, lest they succumb to vanity. Rival faction of the Erudite faction. Ceremonial symbol: grey coloured stones. Officially, the faction has no leader. But the unspoken leader of the faction, as well as the city, is Marcus Eaton.

The protagonist, like Kitniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, will have to make a lot of effort to find her place among all five factions. Psychologically complex, these films give the viewer a better understanding of themselves, their inner world.... Sometimes you can't change the past and present, but who says we don't have the power to make our FUTURE better?))))))

watch online: https://www1.123moviesme.online/divergent-2014/?sv=1

If you want to watch something less ‘depressing’ with the whole family, you can go to the parallel reality of ‘Future Land’: https://co.lordfilm.cx/24962-zemlja-buduschego.html.

It is not hard to guess that the moral of these films is as follows: everyone can change the world for the better, you just have to believe in yourself, in your strength and put some effort into it, right?