Elysium Inspired

"Everyone has one special thing, Max. One thing that they are destined to do. One thing they were born for." -Nun (Elysium by Neill Blomkamp)

I like science fiction films better than drama. I like films that make me analyze and think, not just those that make me laugh or cry. Usually, sci-fi and crying don’t go together. But with Elysium, it does. 

I realized that as you grow older, you become much more sensitive to the sufferings of others. You want to extend help as you empathize with them. A little comfort or a little understanding, that is all that is needed.

I was on a bus going home when the the movie Elysium was being shown. It was actually at the last few scenes but  I was caught up in the action and suspense. I saw the actor Matt Damon fighting a cyborg and on another scene, an unconscious child lying on what looked like an MRI machine. Upon scanning her, the computer monitor read “No Citizen Detected”. And the ending… I cried because I found myself relating to it. Every man on Earth is destined to do something that only he is able to. And one day, everything will make sense and he will be a great man. 

Then after the movie finished, the bus conductor played it again. So I knew that the title of the movie is “Elysium”. And the first statement immediately caught my attention:

In the late 21st century Earth was diseased, polluted and vastly overpopulated.

Earths wealthiest inhabitants fled the planet to preserve their way of life

Then I knew this movie is not just about high-tech gadgets, robots,  and guns. This is a movie about social relevance, injustice, and oppression between the rich and the poor. I don’t know why but I feel I feel as if the movie is describing my life.. a life is full of struggles and sufferings.

The rich (or more specifically, the 1% of Earth's population) lived in this Utopian world in space called Elysium. They have their own gravity and atmosphere. How that came about was not explained in the movie. But their world is so beautiful and green, in contrast to the brown and polluted Earth. 

The 2154 Earth as depicted in the movie

The paradise that is Elysium

Our hero, Max (Matt Damon), is an orphan and always has this childhood dream of going to Elysium. As a child, he would steal things so he could save money and buy his ticket to the Utopian world. But a nun talked to him and it was a very inspiring conversation. 

Nun: Max, have you been stealing things again? It breaks my heart. Why do you do this? So you can save up? One day buy a ticket to that place? That place is not for you, or for me.

Max: But it's not fair, Sister. Why can't I go there?

Nun: Sometimes in life we don't understand why things are the way they are. But I know one thing. I know you are special. You will do something very important one day. Something you were born for. My little Max.

But the nun still encouraged Max with his dream and gave him a locket with Earth’s picture, as a reminder to never forget where he came from. 

Fast forward, we see a grown up Max trying to fix his broken life. But he suddenly got into a tight situation and going to Elysium is the only chance he’s got. 

Everyone on Earth wants to go to Elysium. And as I watched the movie, there is one reason why…

Elysium possessed the high tech medical machine called Med-Bays. It looks like an MRI machine with an overhead scanner. It scans your body and detects all illness. Then it re-atomizes your body and you instantly are cured, like magic. It cures all diseases, even cancer or bone fractures, in an instant. If there will be one breakthrough in Medical Physics in the future, this would be it!

Elysium Med Bay

But why is such a life-saving machine exclusive only to Elysium? The robots they have are all manufactured on Earth and humans enslave themselves to work for Elysium. Ah… All because life is cruel like that. 

The movie is good. It is sci-fi with a heart. I find myself regretting not seeing it on the big screen. I didn’t know that it would be a good movie. The poster was all about cyborgs and robots and futuristic themes. And the title “Elysium”, to me it sounded too scientifically cliche.

But imagine, a sci-fi movie making me cry. This movie was not even popular here in my country. Movies like this is the ones the people should watch. Something that speaks of truth, though combined with fantasy. Intelligent movies that make you think and helps you be sensitive of the current social situation we are all in. 

Maybe one day, Elysium would be a reality. Oh no… Elysium already exists on Earth. You see those skyscrapers heavily guarded by security? And do you see the rich going down to the suburbs to help the poor?

And where am I? I am one of Earth’s citizens. When things get worse, I tell myself:

"Everyone has one special thing, Max. One thing that they are destined to do. One thing they were born for." -Nun (Elysium by Neill Blomkamp)

Photo credits: Sony Pictures