Well put together article you've birthed here Arthur.
A lot to grasp at to discuss, but one that I want to call attention to is the allegory of the construction sites to our own reforging (whether willingly or not) of traditional American values: gender as a spectrum, entitlement, open borders, and the ever present slow lurch toward collectivism; the old schools be damned.
I don't think all of us are at the point of abandoning all hope, but many have; admittedly I'm holding on to any stable footing I can find.
One of my favorite films. The scene with the Neo-Nazi surplus storeowner is particularly poignant---the Nazi wants to believe that D-Fens is a fellow traveler who is lashing out at racial minorities, but D-Fens is horrified to be lumped in with the Nazis (again, you mentioned his father fought in the Second World War). D-Fens is not railing against Korean shopkeeps or Hispanic hoodlums, but against the system that has allowed all Americans free license to rip each other other off. D-Fens is misguided and mentally unhinged, but he's very much a stand-in for the conservative Everyman who loves his country and seethes at the million little injustices and social taxes we all have to pay every day. The film is clear that his violent outbursts are *not* the right path, but that it is understandable that such a man would crack under the societal and personal pressures on his life.
The judge wanting to make an example of him by not allowing him custody of his daughter is another powerful (and sad) revelation. Even his ex-wife notes that D-Fens never abused her or their daughter, but just that he was scary sometimes. I think every man (sadly) has lost his temper with his significant other or been too angry at times, but it's not grounds for divorce or for separating a man from his child (unless, of course, that temper results in physical violence, which does not seem to be the case here).
Regardless, I loved your post, and your analysis is excellent.
Great movie, and like you said, just as relevant now as it was then. It's also a great reminder that the societal rot is old; it's just more visible, less ignorable now, but it was definitely there in the 1990s (the decade that also brought us Office Space and Requiem for a Dream). Barking Years had a really interesting review of Falling Down that you may enjoy: https://youtu.be/Ji94tMVjNm8
$$ quote: “I did everything they told me to do. I played by all the rules, & I’m the bad guy?”
The film is an incredible allegorical look into what America has become & the state of the average citizen. The film is still as culturally relevant now as it was then perhaps even moreso; the war on men continues is even worse now than it was then.
D-Fens is not the good guy but rather a tragic figure driven over the edge by circumstantial forces well beyond his control; he’s been laid off, his now ex-wife wants nothing to do with him, & she is scared to have him interact at all with their daughter. In a sense the character of D-Fens is an “Everyman” who is one bad situation away from snapping-off-his-rock entirely. The scary part of it is that we - the general public - don’t recognize the red flags as they’re raised. We’re only wise to it after the explosion happens & that usually comes with tragic results.
Overall a sad film but gripping, riveting, & truthful. A film that is real & truthful will always leave you with a punch to the gut as this one does.
Pretty good analysis. Amazed how the progressives think they can read critical theory into everything, including movies from before their worldview existed outside the bowels of academia. Also, their need to use black and white, good vs evil Christian morality while rejecting most other aspects of Christianity.
You can see D-Fens as the villain, and indeed, there’s not much to like about him. But at the same time, a lot of the things that offend him throughout the movie (pointless construction projects, traffic jams, legalistic fast food restaurants) don’t have to be that way. It’s pretty damning that a lot of people just accept pointless nuisances like that as just the way things are.
Well put together article you've birthed here Arthur.
A lot to grasp at to discuss, but one that I want to call attention to is the allegory of the construction sites to our own reforging (whether willingly or not) of traditional American values: gender as a spectrum, entitlement, open borders, and the ever present slow lurch toward collectivism; the old schools be damned.
I don't think all of us are at the point of abandoning all hope, but many have; admittedly I'm holding on to any stable footing I can find.
Great read!
He didn't "birth" an article. Don't be a fag.
Stfu and speak when spoken to? Maybe if you sucked less dick you wouldn't confuse colorful metaphor for homosexual activity?
Saw this when it came out. Like your treatment. I'll have to watch it again. Thanks!
One of my favorite films. The scene with the Neo-Nazi surplus storeowner is particularly poignant---the Nazi wants to believe that D-Fens is a fellow traveler who is lashing out at racial minorities, but D-Fens is horrified to be lumped in with the Nazis (again, you mentioned his father fought in the Second World War). D-Fens is not railing against Korean shopkeeps or Hispanic hoodlums, but against the system that has allowed all Americans free license to rip each other other off. D-Fens is misguided and mentally unhinged, but he's very much a stand-in for the conservative Everyman who loves his country and seethes at the million little injustices and social taxes we all have to pay every day. The film is clear that his violent outbursts are *not* the right path, but that it is understandable that such a man would crack under the societal and personal pressures on his life.
The judge wanting to make an example of him by not allowing him custody of his daughter is another powerful (and sad) revelation. Even his ex-wife notes that D-Fens never abused her or their daughter, but just that he was scary sometimes. I think every man (sadly) has lost his temper with his significant other or been too angry at times, but it's not grounds for divorce or for separating a man from his child (unless, of course, that temper results in physical violence, which does not seem to be the case here).
Regardless, I loved your post, and your analysis is excellent.
Great movie, and like you said, just as relevant now as it was then. It's also a great reminder that the societal rot is old; it's just more visible, less ignorable now, but it was definitely there in the 1990s (the decade that also brought us Office Space and Requiem for a Dream). Barking Years had a really interesting review of Falling Down that you may enjoy: https://youtu.be/Ji94tMVjNm8
$$ quote: “I did everything they told me to do. I played by all the rules, & I’m the bad guy?”
The film is an incredible allegorical look into what America has become & the state of the average citizen. The film is still as culturally relevant now as it was then perhaps even moreso; the war on men continues is even worse now than it was then.
D-Fens is not the good guy but rather a tragic figure driven over the edge by circumstantial forces well beyond his control; he’s been laid off, his now ex-wife wants nothing to do with him, & she is scared to have him interact at all with their daughter. In a sense the character of D-Fens is an “Everyman” who is one bad situation away from snapping-off-his-rock entirely. The scary part of it is that we - the general public - don’t recognize the red flags as they’re raised. We’re only wise to it after the explosion happens & that usually comes with tragic results.
Overall a sad film but gripping, riveting, & truthful. A film that is real & truthful will always leave you with a punch to the gut as this one does.
It is much too easy to relate to this story.
I should watch it again, but maybe a little wait is in order.
Pretty good analysis. Amazed how the progressives think they can read critical theory into everything, including movies from before their worldview existed outside the bowels of academia. Also, their need to use black and white, good vs evil Christian morality while rejecting most other aspects of Christianity.
Falling Down is one of my all time favorites.
You can see D-Fens as the villain, and indeed, there’s not much to like about him. But at the same time, a lot of the things that offend him throughout the movie (pointless construction projects, traffic jams, legalistic fast food restaurants) don’t have to be that way. It’s pretty damning that a lot of people just accept pointless nuisances like that as just the way things are.