The East (2013)

The East (2013)

There’s a lot to think about this film! 

If you like clichéd political correctness (the industrialist is inevitably the bad guy and he looks like a very bad guy, in this case Patricia Clarkson once again), then this film is for you.

Plus the fact that it’s shot entirely with a hand-held camera, all these factors combine to make it a turnip. 

Or maybe: With its air of not touching the big issues, the script and direction get lost in slapstick considerations that lead nowhere. Very average acting by actors just out of the mould. The lighting is very well done, but the quality of the image is appalling. You can either make a film about the bohemian world or a real booster about terrorism, or you can mix the two, but only if you’re talented… which apparently you’re not. 

But you could also say to yourself, in a slightly more mature way: I was expecting a mindless action film, and I ended up watching a superbly well-written eco thriller!  

In any case, this is the first film in which I’ve really appreciated Shiloh Fernandez! 

Even if he’s not incredible, he’s finally in a role that’s endearing and enjoyable. 

Ahhh… Revenge!

When do activists become terrorists?

A film that makes you think a little, maybe a lot… but that works with the typical elements of an undercover thriller.

After all, it’s easier to pretend you don’t know …

In general, eco-activism (or what some call eco-terrorism) is not necessarily bad. But through agents provocateurs, infiltration (e.g. political) or disinformation (e.g. corporate), the noble intentions of the saviours of the planet are often discredited. There is also a minimal risk of eco-fascism. Yet those responsible for many environmental disasters all too easily escape the punishment they deserve, and effective prophylaxis does not seem to be generally desired by the tribunes of the people (i.e. politicians). We don’t all have to live like pickles, but there is an urgent need to be more considerate and appreciative of the things we have. Because if we don’t, the helplessness of the victims quickly turns into violence on the part of the potentially threatened survivors, which can then lead to anarchy. Conclusion: the theme is & remains highly topical. The performance and staging are convincing and balanced. In that sense, it’s a thought-provoking film that’s certainly worth watching.

Brit Marling plays the role of a young woman hired by a private secret service agency that defends the interests of major corporations. She must infiltrate a secret organisation, “The East”, which carries out impressive and merciless actions against executives involved in environmental and health disasters.

The film plunges us into the heart of this group of activists on the fringes of consumer society, revolting against the pharmaceutical laboratories that are poisoning people, against the oil and energy companies that are polluting our environment, and whose sole concern is to make ever more profits.

The film presents a purely Manichean plot pitting the ‘sharks’ of Wall Street against a group of hippies, who may be somewhat extremist but who defend the notion of sharing with the greatest respect for nature and natural resources.The screenplay is clearly not trying to be subtle, and it’s probably because it doesn’t hide that this film was able to engage me.At least, I liked the immersion in this group of young people that forces us to take a step back and look at ourselves.The East’, which gives the impression of being addressed to the big bosses, makes you think, without being moralistic, and that’s always interesting in my view.

The choice casting was full of promise and I wasn’t really disappointed. The actors are good, especially Ellen Page and Alexander Skarsgård, and they all clearly contribute to making this a good film.

Similarly, the well-chosen music and soundscapes managed to keep me going for 2 hours without me feeling that too much time had passed.All in all, a decent film that’s worth spending 2 hours watching at least once.