The film Platform has quickly become a hit on the Internet. While the scenes are drab, the plot is thought-provoking. Some say that the film reveals the real nature deep within a human’s heart, while others say it is a realistic film. Opinions vary. The film, which was released in Spain on November 8, 2019, was directed by Gald Gaztulu Urrutia and stars Ivan Massagué and Zorion Eguilleor.
The film tells the story of people who voluntarily imprisoned themselves. It is a vertical prison with one cell per level. Two prisoners are on each floor. Every day, prisoners are fed beginning on the top floor and then continuing to the lower floors. Prisoners on the first floor enjoy delicious food provided from the platform. The lower the platform goes, the less food is left for the prisoners. Prisoners on the bottom don’t have enough to eat or starve to death or try to eat one another. Prison rules stipulate that food can only be eaten, but not be kept.
What’s interesting is that prisoners are randomly distributed to different levels each month. Prisoners on the first level who do not need to worry about having enough food may be sent to a lower level and hardly have any food to eat for a month, and they may become cannibals.
The main storyline is that the hero recruits a partner and together they attempt to break this system. They go to each level by using the platform to distribute food fairly, so as to change the situation where the people on the top level are well-fed and those on the bottom starve to death or eat each other. One might say that the protagonist is a typical idealist, who wants to create a fair system of survival and restore everyone’s right to life, but reality will punch him in the face.
The film reflects the reality that everyone is struggling for survival, no matter if they are in the upper or lower class, and they are all persecuted. The film tries to tell us that resistance is difficult and may not be successful, but only by trying to break the system of oppression can we live with dignity.
Some think that living is the most important thing. However, without morality, is there value in life? When we are tortured or under pressure, and even have our lowest sense of humanity challenged, do we give up on morality and try our very best only to protect ourselves?
Who has never been corrupted?
There are different kinds of people in this film. Some muddle along while in prison, some try to eat as much as possible, some want to escape with a rope, some take along knives to kill their cell mates if they are out of food.
The hero doesn’t want to be dominated by this type of life. He wants to break this order of survival of the fittest. He has his own beliefs and works hard to establish a different morality.
There are other storylines and details, like when the protagonist and his partner go to distribute the food to other levels, some might not follow their rules, but they try to persuade them before they have to use force. This is their principle and their belief. He is not a perfect hero. He has been corrupted too, though he is the one with strong beliefs. Before he goes to distribute food with his partner, he was imprisoned with an old man, then he was locked up with a woman who had a dog. The protagonist killed the old man because the old man threatened his life. The woman with the dog hanged herself to save food for him.
The protagonist goes from being a revolutionary to an idealist. He wants all the prisoners to unite. He tries to change himself and stand up for his beliefs. This might be the highlight of his life. He cares nothing about what others do. He wants only to live his life, believing that he can help others to act in the same way as himself.
In conclusion, what should we Christians do when we are faced with reality or controlled by social norms? Should we go with the stream or insist on our own beliefs? Some Christians may care about only themselves when they face adversity and tribulation. This is a selfish way of living.
Christians are not heroes, but they should have their own beliefs, principles, and should not give in to the temptation of evil for their own profit. Those who cannot keep their faith while facing evil should repent and mend their ways.
- Translated by Lin Changfeng
一，道德的界限什么时候会被越过？
这部影片在网上迅速走红，虽然影片场景单调，但剧情引人深思。有人说这是一部挖掘人性的影片，也有人说这是一部带有黑色讽刺现实主义的影片，众说纷纭。据介绍这部影片是由加尔德·加兹特鲁·乌鲁蒂亚执导，伊万·马萨戈、佐里昂·伊圭里奥尔主演的，于2019年11月8日在西班牙上映。
影片剧情主要讲述一个“反乌托邦”公民自愿将自己监禁起来，在一个监狱坑中所发生的事，这个监狱坑每一层都关着两个囚犯，每天这个监狱坑都会借助一个升降机来为每一层的囚犯送食物，处于第一层的人可以尽情享受桌子上的美味佳肴，而升降机越往下层，食物因每一层的人吃掉会越来越少，也就意味着底层人吃不饱或者饿死、吃人的情况，而且监狱规定每一层的囚犯只能吃不能私藏。
有意思的是，大致每一个月监狱的囚犯都会被随机送到别的层，也就是说处于第一层的人，这个月或许吃的饱足，但下个月被送到别的层就不一定吃饱，或者没有食物，最后或许吃人。
影片较为经典的是：故事的主人公招募了一个伙伴想要打破这种秩序，让每一层的囚犯都可以获得食物，并且他们乘坐升降电梯到每一层送食物，公平分配食物，他们想要打破的是上层人吃得饱足，下层人人吃人、以及饿死的情形。或许有人会说这个主人公是典型理想主义，他想要制作一套公平的生存体系，并且恢复每个人生存的权利，但现实往往会给忍当头一棒。
对于这部影片的最终评价是，每一个人都在为生存挣扎，无论是上层还是下层，在本质上都是被迫害的人。这部电影在试图告诉我们的，虽然反抗很难，也不一定成功，但只有试图打破被压迫的系统，才能有尊严的活着。
有人认为活着比什么都重要，但话说回来，如果没有道德的活着，那么人生有什么样的价值体现？当我们面对折磨和压力，甚至挑战人性的底线时，会不会越过道德的准则，想方设法地为自己的利益考虑？
二，谁不曾堕落过？
从这部影片中可以看到好几等人，有的人在监狱里过一天是一天；有的人在监狱里想尽办法让自己吃饱；也有的人试图用绳子逃脱；还有的人带有刀子，一旦面临食物危机时把对方吃掉。
男主角他不愿意被固定的生存模式支配，想要打破这种优胜劣汰的不良秩序，他有自己的信念，他朝着自己的信念努力。
当然电影中还有很多故事路线和细节，比如主人公和招募的伙伴去到每一层分配食物，或许有些人不服约束，但他们两个人本着一个原则，“先说服，再动武”，这或许就是一个信念，一种标准。
当然主人公也不是完美的英雄，他纵然有信念，但影片中也有他落魄、堕落的场景；当他还没有招募伙伴去分配食物之前，他和一个老人关在一起，以及后来和一个带狗的女人关在一起发生了一些事。主人公因受到老人对自己生命的威胁反杀了老人，还有就是一个带着狗的女人因食物的匮乏，最终上吊死了，为主人公提供“食物”。
最终主人公从一个理想主义者逐渐发展成为一个革命者，他想要制造自发性的团结。他试图改变自己，坚持自己的信念，这或许是主人公身上的亮点，别人做什么是别人的事，但自己应该活得有信念有原则，在有能力的时候帮助更多的人。
二，总结
作为基督徒，当我们在被现实环境难住、被固定的模式绑架的时候，应该作何选择？是同流合污还是本着信仰的原则坚持？有时候基督徒或许在面对困境和磨难时也会只顾自己，这是一种自私的生活形态。
基督徒虽然不是英雄，但活着当有信仰的界限和秩序，不能因为利益和诱惑向罪恶妥协。如果在面对罪恶时选择的不是坚持真理而是妥协，这是需要我们去悔改的。
The film Platform has quickly become a hit on the Internet. While the scenes are drab, the plot is thought-provoking. Some say that the film reveals the real nature deep within a human’s heart, while others say it is a realistic film. Opinions vary. The film, which was released in Spain on November 8, 2019, was directed by Gald Gaztulu Urrutia and stars Ivan Massagué and Zorion Eguilleor.
The film tells the story of people who voluntarily imprisoned themselves. It is a vertical prison with one cell per level. Two prisoners are on each floor. Every day, prisoners are fed beginning on the top floor and then continuing to the lower floors. Prisoners on the first floor enjoy delicious food provided from the platform. The lower the platform goes, the less food is left for the prisoners. Prisoners on the bottom don’t have enough to eat or starve to death or try to eat one another. Prison rules stipulate that food can only be eaten, but not be kept.
What’s interesting is that prisoners are randomly distributed to different levels each month. Prisoners on the first level who do not need to worry about having enough food may be sent to a lower level and hardly have any food to eat for a month, and they may become cannibals.
The main storyline is that the hero recruits a partner and together they attempt to break this system. They go to each level by using the platform to distribute food fairly, so as to change the situation where the people on the top level are well-fed and those on the bottom starve to death or eat each other. One might say that the protagonist is a typical idealist, who wants to create a fair system of survival and restore everyone’s right to life, but reality will punch him in the face.
The film reflects the reality that everyone is struggling for survival, no matter if they are in the upper or lower class, and they are all persecuted. The film tries to tell us that resistance is difficult and may not be successful, but only by trying to break the system of oppression can we live with dignity.
Some think that living is the most important thing. However, without morality, is there value in life? When we are tortured or under pressure, and even have our lowest sense of humanity challenged, do we give up on morality and try our very best only to protect ourselves?
Who has never been corrupted?
There are different kinds of people in this film. Some muddle along while in prison, some try to eat as much as possible, some want to escape with a rope, some take along knives to kill their cell mates if they are out of food.
The hero doesn’t want to be dominated by this type of life. He wants to break this order of survival of the fittest. He has his own beliefs and works hard to establish a different morality.
There are other storylines and details, like when the protagonist and his partner go to distribute the food to other levels, some might not follow their rules, but they try to persuade them before they have to use force. This is their principle and their belief. He is not a perfect hero. He has been corrupted too, though he is the one with strong beliefs. Before he goes to distribute food with his partner, he was imprisoned with an old man, then he was locked up with a woman who had a dog. The protagonist killed the old man because the old man threatened his life. The woman with the dog hanged herself to save food for him.
The protagonist goes from being a revolutionary to an idealist. He wants all the prisoners to unite. He tries to change himself and stand up for his beliefs. This might be the highlight of his life. He cares nothing about what others do. He wants only to live his life, believing that he can help others to act in the same way as himself.
In conclusion, what should we Christians do when we are faced with reality or controlled by social norms? Should we go with the stream or insist on our own beliefs? Some Christians may care about only themselves when they face adversity and tribulation. This is a selfish way of living.
Christians are not heroes, but they should have their own beliefs, principles, and should not give in to the temptation of evil for their own profit. Those who cannot keep their faith while facing evil should repent and mend their ways.
- Translated by Lin Changfeng
Film Review: What Should We Choose When Survival Conflicts Truth?
