The Platform
MFC Review
Spanish cinema keeps producing masterpieces and this time it brings us The Platform (2019), a Netflix science fiction thriller.
The Platform is directed by debuting director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia and stars Iván Massagué in the role of Goreng, a man who wakes up confined in a vertical prison of sorts, with two prisoners per floor. A huge hole is pierced across the middle of the prison and, through it, descends a platform filled with food, which becomes more and more empty as it goes down the indefinite number of floors. Thus, prisoners on the upper levels enjoy magnificent feasts while those on the lower levels starve to death, desperate to wake up on a higher level the following month.
This film includes genres like drama, horror and science fiction to address issues of current relevance, such as the organization of our society, justice and the distribution of resources, through both dialogues of great philosophical depth and scenes and images of shocking rawness. Due to its themes and reflections of a social nature, The Platform is often compared to productions such as Snowpiercer (2013) and the award-winning Parasite (2019), both by acclaimed filmmaker Bong Joon-ho. However, The Platform stands out on its own production merits and shines not only for its plot and themes, but also for its great performances and impeccable directing.
Since its first screenings, The Platform has garnered great fame and an enviable number of awards, winning the People’s Choice Award for Midnight Madness in the Toronto International Film Festival; the awards for Best Film, Best New Director, Best Special Effects and the Grand Audience Award at the Sitges Film Festival; and the Goya Award for Best Special Effects, among others. Without a doubt, a great path has been opened for Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, who, with just his first film, is positioned as a rising star in Spanish cinema.
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