The setting in the film present a strong sense of realism and often forces me to reflect on the environmental activism advertisements that show heavily polluted areas, albeit land, water, or air. The movie showed areas we very much could associate with real-life however, the way they were presented exist in areas of the world already, and could possibly be something we continue to interact with in the future should people continue to live unsuitable lives. I could go out on a limb and also note that whenever Theo was faced with a lot of turmoil from outside forces, he was in a highly industrialized area (near his workplace or where the Fugees were held captive). Scenes were he was running (really driving) away from the madness in order to get Kee to a safe haven, were in the country with a lot of green landscapes. Here we can think of Jasper’s home and the safe house that Leon took them to. Roads that lead to these places seemed pure and untouched.

Below I’ve attached still frames from moments that I believe truly address pollution. In the effort, I say that infertility in this case symbolizes the way in which war and malicious practices can damage the Earth. If done too much, it can also cause irreversible damage like oil pollution in the Amazons.

In this frame, I wanted everyone to pay attention to what is being shown outside of the guarded window. The train passed a large amount of what appeared to be garbage. This could have given credence to they way in which we carry out waste practices. Waste today is taking up a lot of land mass, using remote areas of trash islands.

 

 

Cows could have been a natural prop to the open land shown on the sides as Jasper and Theo were driving. HOWEVER, these cows were set on fire. This could have been referenced to bad farming practices like slash and burn or the mistreatment of animals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This shot was a mobile frame following Sid’s truck. When heading to the detainment center, you noticed a lot of degradation to the land as the bus Sid is driving Theo, Kee, and Miriam in turns into the opening gates. At the forefront, you can see a barrel in the water (could have been filled with oil), muddy water and pathways that damage the grass areas. In the second frame, notice on the bottom left the dirty sewage water being leaked out and the dead animal. Past the road and at the top of each frame you can see heavy clouds of smoke from towers, and what appears to be an urban skyline. This reminds me of driving on the highway in New Jersey and looking as massive factories.

Each of the shots were backgrounds and showed the car that drove onto roads as minuscule. Environmental damage is all around us, and yet it isn’t really treated as a priority. Pollution is mentioned once in passing by the Christian protestors in the beginning of the film. Yet, most settings and landscapes chosen are portrayed as damaged in several parts of the movie.