I do not remember the first time I saw Swiss Army Man, but it is a film I remember enjoying on the first viewing. Though recently I rewatched the film and discovered a new appreciation for its themes. Not only is the film funny, and visually impressive, Swiss Army Man comes with a heavy lesson that reminds us of life's complexities, and how society shapes us into someone we don't want to be. I found the film's consideration of society as some oppressive oddity that removes our natural selves out of fear of being scrutinised to be meaningful, one that extends into the audience as a reminder.
Though this reminder can easily be overlooked as just the film's structure at telling a fictional story that takes place in the supposed wilderness as our protagonist finds themselves on the brink of suicide having been stranded on a small island. Met with the idea of a strange corpse that suddenly appears that seems to be alive yet incapable of moving, ultimately serving as a human Swiss Army Knife, or a multitool. His ability helping our suicidal survivor to, well, survive. Though his supposed living aspect breaks into a real curiosity regarding his own existence. Diving into the questions of everyday life: what it means to be alive; what emotions we hold and what makes us feel certain ways; we see our survivor teach him the ways of everyday life in attempt to give him some sort of recollection of who the corpse was before death.
This sets up the film's main idea, where friendship blooms, and a curiosity for life is gained, as is the attempt to understand what it not just means to be alive, but part of modern society. The simplicities of riding the bus each day, seeing a beautiful woman, and even how we cling to our greatest fears, ultimately allowing them to control us and hold us back.
For the first half of the film, much of Swiss Army Man just toys with its idea of a human multitool saving a lost man in the middle of nowhere. The two grow a friendship as they connect over the idea of life. Endless questions from our corpse ensue, many of which result in our protagonist's realisation of life's cruelty. This cruelty propelled by his realisation that he has struggled to fit in during his entire life, forever controlled by his own fears and the external expectations others have placed upon him. His solution ultimately being to break away from society and escape it in its most drastic form. Something of which modern society does in fact face an issue with as many youth decide to merely drop out from society rather than mindlessly grind through life's hardships with no real destination in mind.
Our protagonist slowly realises how beautiful life can be through his newfound friendship with the corpse, having an adventure, but still very much under the control of society's expectations. To which the film places much of its attention to this idea that we roam through life living for others, incapable of living without judging each other and expecting things from each other. Effectively shutting ourselves away from the world and living as another person, someone that does not at all really represent how we really feel and act. Even our most animalistic features being buried as some strange rejection of nature. To which the film continues to explore, though with its own elements of humour to show them in a lighter manner.
Though this realisation that our protagonist has been running from the world remains. His realisation that he has given up, removed from society and rejected the world based on the rejection he himself witnessed. To not compete at all becoming the reasonable solution. This is amplified by exceptional cinematography that shows us close-up but gentle perspectives of the two cast members, showing us their real nature's up-close in a way that no other has seen them. It is a touching and deeply personal style of directing that makes us feel for them, allowing us to see them finally let go and relax, though the problem remains as the two live in the middle of nowhere, still far from society and others. Add to this a score in which the songs containing simple sounds and singing from the cast, showing a careless and more fun aspect of music. The two feel free in nature together. But are they free? Our corpse doesn't know who he was still, and is left holding the many questions of who he once was and how he died. Deeply philosophical questions that detail a struggle to understand himself, and perhaps why things turned out the way they did. Our survivor realising he was controlled by fear, but still controlled by it and failing to take control of his life still.
Though these expectations from external sources and the fears of being judged are ultimately abandoned. Our survivor no longer caring for what others think of him, no longer allowing others to tell him how to think and act. For once he truly does understand what freedom is, and pursues it. We cut to black as the film ends, seeing no further development from his character. But witnessing the next stage of his life given he finally began to take action.
Swiss Army Man takes a very human approach to the modern problems of our society. It reflects on the idea that fear controls us too much, stopping us from being able to enjoy the extremely limited time we do have to live. That idea that this limited duration of life should not be wasted caring what others think or expect from you, and that you should live for yourself. The film's writing sets up two characters both with similar questions, one more deeper and philosophical as it's too late for him to find answers, already dead and gone. The other still alive and discovering who he really is in the density of nature.
Watching the film, it's hard to not feel sorry for our two characters. Their engagements show ones of connection and struggle, watching the two slowly bond over their attempts to understand themselves. A friendship is formed over their mutual feeling of being lost. Not knowing themselves but wanting to. Asking all the right questions but never really having the right answers to them. This allows them to be seen in a very human way; the film pursues the idea of empathy, showing us that we all feel these ways, but hide it and all suffer as a result.
Each step the film takes is one that pursues the idea of self-discovery. Learning to be independent and survive alone, learning to be happy with yourself. Rather than attempting to live for others. I found this profoundly engaging, and it gave me such a newfound appreciation for the film having realised what it wanted to tell us all: just stop caring.
Never seen this title. Will check it out, soonish, and read your blog post afterwards ;<)
I'm surprised you haven't seen it! Definitely seems like something you'd enjoy. I consider it to be like a sillier version of Prince Avalanche, if that helps!
I see, I enjoyed P.A.
Guess I can't keep up with all the movies, these days, I am also still watching plenty of older stuff, especially via MUBI.
And, unfortunately, it isn't the little gems that are talked about most ;<)
Thanks for adding to my watchlist of movies & series without bloodshed (which is pretty hard to find!).
I mentioned to another that it's similar to a film called Prince Avalanche, I think you'll like that if you end up liking this!
Also I have no idea why I wasn't following you, I remember you being around from the earliest days I was posting.
This movie is a movie with a weird plot! When I watched it, at first I was unsettled by the storyline but then as the movie progresses I find out that we all are capable of love and sometimes, we need to be patient for us to see it.
Dano and Radcliffe are just two piece in a pod.They have great chemistry together and told a memorable and authentic story. Then soundtrack, hmmm I enjoyed it and the addition of Manchester Orchestra was a brilliant idea.
I admit I am a huge fan of them both. Paul Dano's performances can be incredible. But he went more behind the camera for a while rather than in front of it. Radcliffe is also slowly coming out of his shell with some hits. I remember enjoying Guns Akimbo.
When it comes to movies about life and its ideologies, there's always so much to be learned.
When I saw the trailer for this movie, I thought it would be a lot of fun so I made plans to see it soon, but now that I read your review, it looks like this movie is much deeper than I thought. It's not just a movie to laugh or feel a little weirded out, it's also one to reflect on important issues. I think it will be worth watching as you describe it.
I think it's definitely a film that you should finish watching having felt like you did learn something new, and are more relaxed about yourself in life.
I don't remember much about this movie, but I did find it really creative and kind of gross (for drinking the water inside Manny). What always left me with big questions was why Hank and Manny's camp were so close to Sarah's house. Maybe I don't have an answer, since this is a comedy.
The gross stuff is like an exaggeration on how fear and being judged controls us. It's pretty effect in getting the point across without being too subtle about it.
Yeah the story does have its coincidences, but I guess there may be a metaphor for it all; but I don't want to post spoilers on it here in the comments. :^)
Hi friend @namiks, this movie is interesting, it doesn't talk about a person who has existential problems of daily life, which shows us the suicidal mind of the human being when we are in our worst moments.
It is very true everything you mention at the end of the publication, it is very interesting the idea of self-discovery, it usually happens to us that we can do things that we never ever thought we could do but we do it in the best way.
This is so fun to read, i hope could see this movie oneday☺☺