The Zone

I first encountered the concept of the zone in the novel "Roadside Picnic" by the Strugatsky brothers, which was adapted into Andrei Tarkovsky's film Stalker. The mysterious ZONE represented an area where the usual laws of physics and rules that we are accustomed to on our planet do not apply. On the other hand, in Rodrigo Plá's film, the ZONE represents a territory where the laws of the country do not apply because the privileged people who live there have enough resources and determination to live according to their own rules, even at the cost of losing their humanity and personal freedom. The Zone separates the successful from the ordinary people living in poor neighborhoods and at the same time distorts the behavior and thinking of those who believe they are protected by it. The omnipresent cameras, uncompromising private security service, bans, and a sense of fear, followed by a failed break-in, subsequent massacre, and psychosis that leads to confiscation of mobile phones and confinement for those who threaten the SYSTEM. On one hand, it is a socially critical drama that aims to provoke and persuade, and on the other, it is a penetrating study of human behavior, manipulation, and herd mentality. From a directing perspective, the film is not exceptional; moreover, it is "only" a TV movie with a lower budget and mostly unknown actors. However, it worked exceptionally strongly in terms of drama and in terms of arousing emotions. I'll put it this way: what the money-obsessed and mainstream-polished Slumdog Millionaire couldn't provide me unexpectedly came from The Zone, including the bitter non-fairy tale ending. Because Plá didn't make a fairy tale, but a political and social reality. And if anyone thinks it doesn't concern us, they are very mistaken. In the evening, I walked through a better neighborhood where high walls separated luxurious villas from the rest of the world. All that was missing were the guards with rifles - the cameras, the bars, and the alarms were all in their places... Overall impression: 95%. The Zone is not as spectacular and action-packed as City of God or as calculatedly emotional as Slumdog Millionaire. It's ordinary and pleasant, like a slap in the face or a kick in the ribs... A big surprise and a strong experience for me. (24/08/2009)