Movies

Mickey 17: A Dystopian Journey to Hope in a Capitalist Nightmare!

BBG News

As a passionate cinephile, I found myself deeply moved by filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s insightful words during an interview for his Oscar-winning masterpiece, “Parasite,” the first foreign-language film to win the prestigious Best Picture Award in 2019. When asked about the profound impact this South Korea-set black comedy was having on audiences worldwide, he poignantly stated that we all inhabit a single nation – Capitalism.

In Bong Joon-ho’s previous works like the 2013 apocalyptic action thriller “Snowpiercer” and the 2017 animal rights fable “Okja,” it’s clear that he often critiques the harsh realities of a system marked by social inequality and class struggle. His latest English-language film, “Mickey 17, currently in theaters, however, presents a thought-provoking scenario where capitalism might one day stretch its ruthless tendrils even to the farthest regions of space.

As a passionate moviegoer, I’m eagerly anticipating the 2023 film adaptation of Ashton Edward’s novel “Mickey7,” a witty sci-fi tale set in 2054. The story revolves around Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, a hapless fellow trying to flee from the relentless grip of a loan shark and his menacing henchmen, who are hot on the heels of the money owed for Mickey’s failed macaron business with Timo, played by Steven Yeun. In a desperate bid for freedom, they join an interstellar colonization mission destined for the icy planet Niflheim. While Timo secures a pilot position, Mickey, undervaluing himself, volunteers as the “expendable” – essentially, his role is to die repeatedly.

Regardless if it’s for unintended reasons or in the name of scientific exploration, Mickey experiences repeated ordeals that are painful, frightening, and stripping of his humanity. Once he’s either deceased (or sometimes barely alive), he gets discarded into a blazing furnace known as the “cycler” together with other organic waste from the ship, only to be reborn as a new Mickey, complete with his memories and awareness, and then sent back to duty. The one comfort for Mickey during the nearly four-year voyage to Niflheim is his relationship with security agent Nasha (Naomi Ackie), who treats every version of him as an individual rather than a lab subject.

The expedition is headed by Kenneth Marshall (played by Mark Ruffalo), a former politician with a reputation for being boastful and having lost two congressional elections. His behavior, style, and followers who wear red caps echo those of a well-known U.S. president, although the character was not modeled after Trump according to the director. Marshall and his enigmatic wife Ylfa (Toni Collette), who has an unusual fascination with sauce, aim to establish a colony populated by their followers, where they will exercise absolute power over a genetically “pure” group of disciples.

Following the 17th instance of Mickey (also Pattinson) unexpectedly living through a perilous space expedition on Niflheim due to the friendly characteristics of the planet’s furry, pill bug-like creatures known as “creepers,” an early production of Mickey 18 leads to a predicament for the prohibited “multiples.” Eventually, these two characters find themselves caught in the middle of the Marshalls’ battle against the creepers, a struggle that culminates in what could be Bong’s most optimistic film ending yet.

Reflecting on the postponement of Mickey 17, which saw its script finalized in September 2021 and filming completed in January 2023, it seems as though this film was crafted to debut in a world where Trump hadn’t secured the 2024 presidency. Consequently, the emotional impact derived from the narrative of the downtrodden heroes banding together with marginalized aliens to vanquish the malevolent fascist may resonate more strongly based on one’s perspective of the current political climate.

Despite initially being a self-loathing nihilist and an unlikely hero, Mickey undergoes a transformation in Bong’s story, gaining a newfound appreciation for his worth. This change culminates in an unexpectedly hopeful conclusion. In the final analysis, the community on Niflheim chooses not only to coexist harmoniously with the creepers but also to dismantle the technology that had initially rendered Mickey dispensable. Remarkably, it’s Mickey who ultimately decides to set off the destruction.

Bong shared with NPR’s WBFO that he deeply hoped to shield Mickey Barnes from being ruined in the finale. He explained, “Mickey has a tough life; nothing comes easily for him. But I wanted to protect him from the harshness of the world, especially since it’s so difficult for this young man.

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2025-03-08 05:06

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