Snowpiercer movie review & analysis (2013)

The screenplay of the movie “Snowpiercer” is quite metaphorical and challenges many universal themes. The constantly moving train which is the only location of this movie is our current leading civilization that has organized the society in a class-based way and the disruption in each of these classes can completely take this train out of its regular movement.

The occupants of this train have come to believe that living outside the train is not possible and the arrangement of the wagons represents the class difference. In such a way that the wagons at the end of the train belong to the subaltern people of the society, and all their riots and riots are met with suppression in the following wagons. The protagonist decides once and for all to get himself from the end wagons to the train’s first wagon and change this cycle forever. All these metaphors are depicted in the movie “Snowpiercer” in such a way that there are concrete examples in our current civilization.

The “Snowpiercer” movie screenplay was written based on the graphic novel “Le Transperceneige” published by Jean-Marc Rochette and Jacques Lob. Although the movie “Snowpiercer” was shot entirely in English, one of the characters in this movie is a Korean assassin who speaks Korean. The film premiered in Seoul, South Korea on July 29, 2013.

Social class inequality is Bong Joon-ho’s biggest concern:

Bong Joon Ho is a director who has paid particular attention to the issue of class inequality in all his movies. In the movies “Parasite”, “Mother”, ” Barking Dogs Never Bite ” etc., the social classes and inequalities that result from this social distancing. However, in the movie “Snowpiercer”, this issue has become the main concern of the filmmaker.

In the movie “Snowpiercer”, each of the ever-moving train wagons has its unique characteristics specific to a particular social class, and the movie’s protagonist takes the amazing journey from the last wagon of the train to the destination of the first wagon, the mindsets, and thoughts of each of these class groups are explored. Conflicts and wars organized with the support of aristocracy to suppress the lower classes are concrete examples of street protests and gatherings that can be found in many forms around the world.

Of course, one of the points to mention when reviewing this movie is that Bong Joon Ho specifically addressed the popular genre of Hollywood movies at the time: apocalyptic movies. As you know, 2012 was supposed to be the end of the world according to Nostradamus’ prophecies. During the year, various films were made using huge budgets to depict the end of the world. But a year after the end of these riots and after finding out that Nostradamus’ prediction was wrong, Bong Joon Ho shows the movie “Snowpiercer” worldwide. You might be wondering how a movie that takes place on a train can be an apocalyptic movie. To answer this question, we first need to take a closer look at the symbols and metaphors used in the film. If we assume that this moving train is a human civilization, stopping this train means the world’s end. However, in the final sequence of the film, after the big explosion, we see the illustration of polar bears, seemingly reminiscent of the Ice Age.

In the review of “Snowpiercer” movie, it should be said that this movie is good at separating film genres and somewhat better than his other movies, which is one of Bong Joon Ho’s constant interests. Despite the fact that the story of the film is written using the science fiction genre, the film is full of action scenes. Aside from combining these two genres, some moments in the movie can surprise you with how things can change dramatically. For example, in one of the action sequences of the film, in the middle of the controversy between two different groups living on the train, everything suddenly changes when the anniversary bell rings, and it turns “Snowpiercer” from an action movie into a musical movie where a singer sings and the group of dancers performs dramatic movements, ultimately driving out the audience from the atmosphere of the movie.

In this movie, the character Curtis, the initiator of the Great Rebellion, wants to break the rules and regulations of the train (read: today’s world) set by the person at the top of the pyramid. Wilford’s character as a great dictator is the creator and the driver of this train. The person who has laid the foundations of this capitalist system. The rebellion of Curtis and his companions, with slogans such as equality and freedom, may not be different from communist movements.

If we want to analyze the movie Snowpiercer from the perspective of Marxist criticism, the role of ideology certainly should not be ignored. The rules governing this train, similar to any other ideological system in the world, try to surround and dominate the minds of the people present in this society. Bong Joon-ho has been great at paying attention to character details and dramatic storylines. In this way, the ideologically based structure that governs this train not only allows us to see characters representing different races, nationalities, and ethnicities but also allows us to compare it to the capitalist system that governs the world today.

The movie Snowpiercer has many things to say, which cannot be addressed in this short review. We tried to briefly express the essence of the movie with only superficial references in this text. In any case, such movies have their own fans. That kind of genre won’t appeal to all viewers, but if you have seen and liked movies such as platform or cube, you will undoubtedly enjoy watching this movie more than them because in any case, one of the famous movie experts, Bong Joon Ho, directed this movie.

Snowpiercer 2013 ending explained:

What did the polar bear represent at the film’s conclusion, Snowpiercer (2013)? that life existed on earth. For the 17 years the train had been traversing the globe, its passengers had believed that nothing lived outside. There was the prospect of more life and at least one polar bear.

What happens at the end of Snowpiercer 2013?

Except for Yona and Tim, everyone on the train is killed when it is destroyed. When they go outside, they discover that there is loose snow on the ground rather than solid ice. It appears that Namgoong was correct, as the cold ground is now warming up. At the film’s conclusion, Yona and Tim are shown observing a polar bear from a distance.

What did the ending of Snowpiercer mean?

Each passenger was given the option to select their own chosen future—whether it be to remain in the comparatively safe environment of the Snowpiercer or to go into the unknown by traveling to New Eden—instead of another bloody conflict. The area of the Horn of Africa known as “New Eden” may be warm enough to support a settlement outside of the train.

Why did Earth freeze in Snowpiercer?

In Snowpiercer, the governments of the world release CW-7, a cooling agent, into the atmosphere in an effort to tackle climate change, only to have the scheme backfire and completely freeze the planet.

What does the polar bear symbolize in Snowpiercer?

A polar bear that seems to represent nature’s fortitude in the face of calamity greets two kids as they venture outside for the first time on the now-frozen world, which has transformed into a fantasy on the train.

What do they eat in Snowpiercer?

Source. Protein Bars are rectangular nutrition bars that are only consumed as food in The Tale of Snowpiercer; the bars are frequently rationed to extend their shelf life. Guards bring the bars to the Tail, but Tailies are allowed to utilise them however they see fit, including stockpiling.