Writers and directors of modern cinema have always had an infatuation with post-apocalyptic narratives and a “what if” attitude to the consequences if, and maybe when, it all goes bottoms up in the world as we know it. Director David Michôd brings a different dimension to a genre that has had so much exposure and exploration already.
Set ten years after the economic collapse of Australia, the rolling plains of the outback provide an eerie and desolate backdrop for the story to unfold. In a landscape not dissimilar to 2010’s THE BOOK OF ELI, we get our first glimpse of Eric (Guy Pearce). Props to the make-up department for nailing every cliche possible. Eric looks more than a tad worse for wear: overgrown beard, grubby white shirt with rolled sleeves, and an absolute face like thunder, covered in dirt and sweat of course. Eric has had hiis one and only possession stolen. His car. A man who had next to nothing now has totally nothing left. Some would just give up there and then, but not Eric… and so the pursuit begins.
On his travels Eric meets Rey (Robert Pattinson), who has been left for dead by Eric’s brother Henry (Scoot McNairy), at what we can only assume was a raid resulting in a shootout and a bullet in Rey’s ribs. This is Eric’s opportunity to get his car back: he forms a tenuous bond with Rey and agrees to help him hunt down Henry. These are harrowing times, and there are few glimmers of hope left. Everyone is left to their own devices: killing dogs for food, setting up makeshift shops selling tinned goods, weapons, anything to get cash when that cash is good for next to nothing, as the sporadically splayed populace of the outback have nowhere to go. Nowhere to turn to. No salvation, and certainly no escape regardless of how many dollar bills they have in their pockets.
Having saved each other’s lives and journeyed for miles, these two most unlikely friends reach a bittersweet conclusion.
But some hope lies in the relationship that Rey and Eric form. Rey is a simple minded Texan: he has nothing to offer to Eric other than companionship, and a link to Henry. It is the former that is most significant as the duo roll on further to their destination. Eric’s hardened exterior and pragmatic approach to the life that he has had to adopt is a stark contrast to the boy that sits beside him, wounded and near defeated – but jubilant in small things. This contrast is most apparent in a superb scene between Rey and Eric, where Eric has been talking frankly and harshly about his past life, and how he lost his farm. He even threatens to slit Rey’s throat if they get to their destination to find that Henry and the stolen car are not there. Rey’s response is priceless. He talks about a farm that he used to know, a story about tractors and small sticks wrapped in newspaper. Eric becomes bemused and asks, “whats the point?”. Rey says there is no point, sometimes its just nice to remember.
It is hard to imagine what we would do if one day we found ourselves wandering aimlessly through an unforgiving and sparsely populated world, where you don’t know if the next person you meet may kill you or help you. This scenario is magnificently portrayed by Michôd and his cast. One can’t help but draw comparison to John Steinbeck’s OF MICE AND MEN, seeing Rey and Eric as Lenny and George respectively. Having saved each other’s lives and journeyed for countless miles together, these two most unlikely friends reach a bittersweet conclusion. Eric gets his car back and loses Rey. At this point we ask ourselves, “what’s the point?”. Eric has his car back, but a bitter price has been paid for it and he has lost a valuable companion. What we can draw from this is the intelligent way in which Michôd has encapsulated the stereotypical relationship between a man and dog, personified brilliantly by Pearce and Pattinson. This film isn’t so much about about a car, or a possession – it isn’t even really about life in a dystopian state. It’s a strong message about the values of friendship. Even in the worst of times, there are always people out there who are compassionate and loving. Everyone should have their own Rover.
httpvh://youtu.be/ChM2icbWo9wa