I
recently stated that I had only seen two films which were so revolutionary that
they changed my perspective on life and on the world. The second of these was
Cloud Atlas; I recently read the original novel on which this film is based.
The novel is written by David Mitchell, and contains numerous differences from
the novel. After reading the novel and numerous subsequent rewatchings of the
film do I now truly understand the themes and philosophies of the film.
The
structures of the film and the novel are quite different; the novel uses a
rather particular structure, with the book having an onion like structure. Five
of the six parts are split in two, with the first part, also being the
penultimate, and with only the sixth story not being split. This onion like
structure is not replicated in the film, and the stories are cut together much
more closely and effectively than in the novel, and connections between the
stories are much more obviously apparent than in the novel. Interestingly the
film, when reedited, such as in the trailer shows different moments of
connection, and really shows how closely interlinked these stories are.
The
film also adds another element not found in the novel. The film uses seven main
thespians, each playing different roles throughout the film. This is not
remotely suggested in the novel yet makes perfect sense. Timothy Cavendish in
the novel reads the manuscript of Half Lives, and suggests that the idea of
Luisa Rey and Robert Frobisher being the same soul reincarnated is ‘new-agey’
and ridiculous. This introduces the idea that all of the six main characters
are the same soul, a fact which is shown by their sharing the same birthmark,
in the shape of a comet. In the film the use of the same actors also adds
another element. Various traits are repeated by all the characters played by
the same actor. Hugh Grant and Hugo Weaving always play villains. Tom Hanks
character falls in love with Halle Berry’s character three times, and Jim
Broadbent generally plays cowardly characters.
The
main theme explored in this film is that of connection. The tagline of the film
was ‘everything is connected’. This has a dual meaning, on one hand it refers
to the ideas of reincarnation and fate that are explored in the film, and also
to the concept of consequence. During her speech, Sonmi-451 talks about the
consequences of ones actions rippling throughout eternity, and describes how if
one person attempts to live one’s life in a way which is true and good, then
the consequences of that person will be far greater than the person themselves.
Sonmi-451, who was a lowly server in a diner, manages to bring down a corrupt
corpocracy. She is thus worshipped as a god by subsequent generations, and is
lifted up to a divine status due to her actions. Sonmi describes how she will
always be in love with Hae-Joo, and how if she were to imagine an afterlife,
she will imagine him there, this reinforces the idea that the piece doesn’t
necessarily discuss reincarnation in a literal sense, but instead explores the
idea of someone living on through the consequences of their actions. Robert
Frobisher describes how his life, extends far beyond the limitations of his
physical self, and is something which transcends time or space.
Robert
Frobisher describes the nature of the distance between people, and how
boundaries can be transcended if one can understand their nature. This is
essentially a metaphor for the entire piece, in that it describes how, no
matter where we are, in time or in space, we are bound by our humanity, and the
defining features that define us as a race. We are bound to one another by
empathy and emotion, and thus the boundaries which separate us, boundaries such
as race, religion and sexual orientation are but conventions, and prejudices
which have been instilled into us by the generations before us. He describes
how it is really so simple to overcome these obstacle, and that if one can
truly see their nature, then they can be easily overcome. Frobisher states to
Vivyan Ayers, after he describes a huge gulf between them, that the gulf is an
illusion, and that they both want the same things out of life, really
describing that they are essentially a metaphor for the entire human race, they
both want the same things, but get caught up in the illusory differences
between them.
Frobisher
describes a moment of complete clarity, after he has his paradigm on the nature
of the universe, stating that he can feel Sixsmith’s heart beating as clearly
as his own, and he finally understands that they are kindred spirits, destined
to love each other for all eternity. He describes how their separation is an
illusion, and how even though they are apart, they will always be bound
together.
A
recurring theme in the film is that of falling and ascending, I discussed this in
my earlier review; however I feel like I now understand this concept in more
detail. Ascending is an idea used primarily in ‘An Orison of Sonmi-451’. This
concept is explored more in the novel than in the film. The book describes how Sonmi
will ascend, not just literally into Neo-Seoul, but figuratively, and how she
will ascend into having human emotions and thoughts, and how she will
eventually become one of the people, who are known as consumers. Characters
throughout the book also fall, Luisa Rey falls off the bridge after leaving the
power plant, Hae Joo falls off the platform, and Felix Finch is thrown off the
balcony at the orange awards. These falls describe our failings as a race. The
moments of ascension describe the way we rose from animal status, the discovery
of fire and starting to walk on two legs!
The
piece overall describes the cycle of life itself. The piece describes how the
cycle of life on earth, from its conception to its end is an arc, and that as modern
life started in caves, so it will end. Life on earth ends up going back to its
roots, and civilization has returned to living in straw huts and caves, society
has wiped itself out with an abuse of nuclear power and the world has turned
into warring tribes, until it becomes impossible for human life on earth to go
on, and they must flee to another planet. This is essentially the same thing
that happens with the characters in the novel, or the ‘soul’ that inhabits each
of these characters. It remains in the body for as much time as it can, until
the environment becomes too toxic, and the soul must escape, much like the
human race escapes to another planet.
Finally
the title: Cloud Atlas, really the title is damnably simple, it refers to the
fact that wherever one goes, there are always clouds. They are the only real apparent
constant, and the only thing which most people think that they have in common,
is the fact that they stand on ground, and under the sky. Clouds are the same
no matter where one goes, no matter when one goes, and even though all of the
segments seem to be very disparate, they are deceptively similar.
Overall
Cloud Atlas is a simply magnificent opus. The book is an interesting read,
divinely written and incredibly diverse. The film on the other hand is so much
more, and outshines the book ten to one. The film is intelligently crafted,
delightfully ambitious and beautifully complex. The film is not only all of
these and more, but is also, in my mind, though this may be a tall order, the
greatest motion picture ever made, I have probably seen this film over a
hundred times, and it is so carefully crafted, that I am still discovering more
about the meaning of this opus. The film is perhaps something that I don’t
entirely understand yet, however it is in my mind one of the greatest pieces of
film ever crafted, and I felt compelled to write this essay detailing my
revelations on this work.
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