This movie talks about the defensive mentality and its consequences

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 2014)

Let's talk a bit about the dangers of defensive mentality. This kind of mentality proved time and again to be very detrimental. But let's see why what is it that makes this type of mentality so dangerous.
The first reflex of the defensive mentality is to build a wall as tall and as strong as possible, be it a concrete and barbed-wire wall as it goes with human communities, be it an imaginary wall, just as strong in people's minds and hearts. Anything coming from outside is now automatically rejected. The logical consequence is inertia in all aspects: economic, political and cultural when it comes to societies, spiritual and emotional with individuals.
Once this wall is built, the second stage involves the removal of any element, this time from inside (as the outside world is already blocked) which does not conform to the already established standards. A feeling of fear is maintained in the society by the means of external and internal imaginary enemies, so that people can accept repressive measures more easily. This fear also helps to bring people to support the regime in power. The same thing happens with the individuals: the mind maintains all sorts of anxieties and imaginary diseases, which keep them in a continuous state of fear, not allowing them to leave the confinement defended by the wall. Thus, they remain in their imaginary stronghold, believing themselves to be safe.
As this regime matures, a very dangerous process takes place, namely the transfer of one's responsibilities towards the others. The citizens are no longer responsible about the community, as the system is talking care of everything and everyone. The system educates, takes care of the people's health, builds and distributes housing and so on. Consequently, people only need to focus on delivering on their duties at their work place. Moreover, they do not even need to worry about how the results of their work is used. The scientists are just scientists and the system is making sure that the results of their work are properly used. Soldiers and policemen no longer need to worry about the morality and rightness of their orders, they only need to carry them out, regardless of what their conscience might tell them.
The final blow delivered by this process is applied to the most fundamental values of the people. The isolation erodes the connection between people and makes them unable to feel. The human bond is lost. Now the system raises the stake and attacks savagely the most important human values and call into question even the human nature, proclaiming the need for a new man, most of the time a man that relinquished the feelings and the weaknesses brought upon by them. The blood ties and family bonds are nothing more than abstract notions stemming from the humanity's primitive past. Family is now only a social unit that prepares responsible citizens to be delivered to the society. As a replacement, total loyalty to the collective is demanded as well as the willingness of sacrifice for this greater body, which now represents family.
The consequences of this process can only be disastrous for both individual and society. The diversity and pluralism are eliminated, everyone must behave and think the same, any progress or personal opinion threatens the stability of the system and are nipped in the bud. Fascism and communism proposed and implemented such systems, and the majority of the population embraced them willingly or tacitly, out of their desire for "peace" or "tranquility" and out of their fear of others coming to take what was theirs. What were we talking about in the beginning? About the defensive mentality, about building walls around communities as well as hearts and minds.
And what could be the solution to this problem? Is hard to believe that the solution could come from the top, as once installed in a position of power, elites are unlikely to relinquish that position willingly. Then, just as the problem, the solution could only come from the grass roots, from the rank-and-file people, more exactly with people realizing the trap they have fallen into. These people manage to find their true self through a painful and dangerous introspection. Afterwards, they break down the imaginary walls built around their hearts and minds and also smash the walls around their societies.
The discussion about the defensive mentality and its consequences, have covered the main philosophical, political and motivational themes of this movie. It is an example of a movie that sinks its teeth in a theme and never lets go until it is done with it. This way it has a chance to actually transmit something to the viewers. The rest is action and suspense, sensuality and special effects meant to sell this "masterpiece", which by the way is well made.