Socialism

Socialism is a never-before-attempted take on one of the most significant aspects of Europe- the decline of its civilization, which has been described as ‘the nightmare of history’ by James Joyce. The movie, directed by Jean-Luc Godard of ‘In Praise of Love’ and ‘Our Music’ fame, is divided into three segments, each of which lays focus on a different aspect of the mounting issues of European civilization.

The first segment entitled ‘Things Like That’, is set in the premise of a Mediterranean cruise, and depicts the modern era in Europe, as it showcases characters speaking in a variety of languages, and throws light on how they’re losing their European identity, and are merging with the global milieu. This Europe is what the film refers to as the ‘poor Europe.’ The ship on which the filming takes place has six pivotal characters on board- a brother-sister duo, a criminal of war, a retired UN envoy, a detective from Russia, and interestingly,  the famous American rock star, Patti Smith. The cinematography is particularly inspiring, as we get to witness some breathtaking spectacles and magnificent shots of the sea, each of which assures us that we’re in for something beyond the ordinary. The second segment of the film is entitled ‘Our Europe’, and allows us to get up close and personal with an archetypal European family, the Martins, who run a gas station.

The conversations between the father, mother and their two adolescent kids are a perfect backdrop to gain perspective of where Europe is headed to. The film winds up with the third section, ‘Our Humanities’, which without being too loud, subtly conveys the final message of the movie, which is ‘where are we headed to.’ The movie comes full circle as the cameras return to the cruise, where the conversation has taken an unlikely twist, shifting to more intense topics about the heritage of Europe that’s gradually fading away.