Anti-West The expression “eco-terror” in the annotation for the film “East” sets up a fighting mood – as if you are preparing to watch a military film, where you will involuntarily support one of the parties in her fight for the right cause. The sympathies of the writers – director of the Batmanglidge Hall and starring Brit Marling – were clearly on the side of the modern Resistance, represented by a pretty group of anarchists. Today’s anti-Systemists don’t use drugs like the hippies of the ‘70s, and don’t play with guns like their European counterparts of the same distant time. Vegans and freegans are not in words, but in deeds resist consumerism - they hide in the forests, travel free in freight cars and arrange almost guerrilla attacks against corporations, exposing their dirty business.
Here in such a group of antisocial elements under the name of Sarah gets a balanced and confident Jane - an agent of one of the large companies. The heroine Brit Marling is designed to reflect the very stability of modern Western society - a responsible attitude to work, daily jogging in the fresh air, conservatism and religiosity. The choice of the girl as an agent of infiltration into the group “East”, I think, is not accidental – her emotional sensitivity softens the entry into the organization, turning a good half of the film into an exciting thriller penetration.
Sarah gradually opens up new facets of the members of the group, and the bright novelty of life fascinates with its discrepancy ascetic partisan share. The directness of new acquaintances, their selfless devotion to ideals, but most of all, a sense of unity and trusting attitude towards each other really hurt the girl, changing her view of many things in the world.
Revenge, declared irresponsibility of corporations, covers the group with persecution of the authorities and disputes about methods of struggle, violating the idealization of their way of life. Communities like "East" can come and go, as the filmmakers would say - the desire of people to live a different, free and responsible life remains unchanged, despite the wind of greed and consumption that carries to the West. The main thing is to keep the right direction of your inner compass, which will surely attract loyal friends to you and relieve unnecessary things from power.
8 out of 10
Original