This film, best described as a Docufiction, (or dramatic mockumentary), is very well done. The delivery was solely through the use of hand- held cameras. Also allowing the highly motivated amateur cast to represent themselves through emotional improvised dialogue was very effective. Some of the actors were real activists/police officers of the time.
There are some excellent, articulate arguments delivered by the cast throughout, Even the ones who stumbled over their words and could not adequately explain their reasoning, only made this film more believable because everyone would react differently to such a stressful situation.
Apparently the scene were one of the prisoners is shot for throwing rocks at the national guardsmen was unscripted. The BBC cameraman who freaks out really thinks the man has been killed. Obviously the whole crew was very invested in the message behind this film.
Unfortunately this film only serves as a reminder of how totally powerless we really are. Once accused of breaking a 'law', no matter what checks and balances are in place, we're at the mercy of the system. This film seeks to challenge that concept but we know nothing has changed over the years. The powerful, wealthy, and implicitly corrupt, will always rule over us. Decades have passed since this film was shot and the message of heavy-handed governance is only reinforced.
The concepts suggested here is already our reality. People can be jailed without charges, tried by people totally isolated from the average citizen, and be sentenced to inhuman punishments.
You may think you have certain rights, but they can be taken away at any time. These rights are only respected if you follow every rule, except that some rules contradict the others. In essence - the system will always win.
I thought the concept of the State giving the political prisoners the choice between two punishments was flawed. Sure, the chance to beat a very long sentences in jail by trekking through the desert in a game of hide and seek with armed soldiers and police might sound attractive. But the goal was so undefined. It was almost laughable that 'option B' involves the State forcing the 'contestant' to overcome severe adversity while striving to reach the American flag - a flag these 'kids' hate. And for what purpose? I actually can't remember the first group being explicitly told they would be set free if they reached the flag therefore what benefit were they going to gain. I find it hard to believe a 'majority' of intelligent political prisoners chose this option (as quoted by the BBC reporter) without demanding clarification of the rules.
On the other hand I can see how the use of 'option B' would indeed benefit the State. Their police and quasi-military home defense force get realistic training on how to track people down, arrest them under a variety of circumstances, and teach them how to process prisoners through to a prison. I don't think 'option B' was supposed to be a death sentence - although they surely knew the contestant had a higher likelihood of being hurt or killed though. The director must also have thought this concept was a stretch as he employed the killing of a deputy as motivation for the police and national guardsmen to act more violently.
Punishment Park is really powerful film, but lets not fool ourselves that it contains a message we don't already know. We let our government to these things to us because revolution has become a romantic notion. And much, much worse, rebelling would interfere with our important schedules.
There are some excellent, articulate arguments delivered by the cast throughout, Even the ones who stumbled over their words and could not adequately explain their reasoning, only made this film more believable because everyone would react differently to such a stressful situation.
Apparently the scene were one of the prisoners is shot for throwing rocks at the national guardsmen was unscripted. The BBC cameraman who freaks out really thinks the man has been killed. Obviously the whole crew was very invested in the message behind this film.
Unfortunately this film only serves as a reminder of how totally powerless we really are. Once accused of breaking a 'law', no matter what checks and balances are in place, we're at the mercy of the system. This film seeks to challenge that concept but we know nothing has changed over the years. The powerful, wealthy, and implicitly corrupt, will always rule over us. Decades have passed since this film was shot and the message of heavy-handed governance is only reinforced.
The concepts suggested here is already our reality. People can be jailed without charges, tried by people totally isolated from the average citizen, and be sentenced to inhuman punishments.
You may think you have certain rights, but they can be taken away at any time. These rights are only respected if you follow every rule, except that some rules contradict the others. In essence - the system will always win.
I thought the concept of the State giving the political prisoners the choice between two punishments was flawed. Sure, the chance to beat a very long sentences in jail by trekking through the desert in a game of hide and seek with armed soldiers and police might sound attractive. But the goal was so undefined. It was almost laughable that 'option B' involves the State forcing the 'contestant' to overcome severe adversity while striving to reach the American flag - a flag these 'kids' hate. And for what purpose? I actually can't remember the first group being explicitly told they would be set free if they reached the flag therefore what benefit were they going to gain. I find it hard to believe a 'majority' of intelligent political prisoners chose this option (as quoted by the BBC reporter) without demanding clarification of the rules.
On the other hand I can see how the use of 'option B' would indeed benefit the State. Their police and quasi-military home defense force get realistic training on how to track people down, arrest them under a variety of circumstances, and teach them how to process prisoners through to a prison. I don't think 'option B' was supposed to be a death sentence - although they surely knew the contestant had a higher likelihood of being hurt or killed though. The director must also have thought this concept was a stretch as he employed the killing of a deputy as motivation for the police and national guardsmen to act more violently.
Punishment Park is really powerful film, but lets not fool ourselves that it contains a message we don't already know. We let our government to these things to us because revolution has become a romantic notion. And much, much worse, rebelling would interfere with our important schedules.